The Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) has announced the winners of the 39th National Qur’anic Recitation Competition as Nigeria’s official representatives at the 2025 international Qur’anic competitions. The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, made the announcement after the competition concluded in Kebbi State from December 20 to 28, 2024.
The event was organized by the Centre for Islamic Studies at Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto. In the memorization category, the male representatives are Bilal Hamza Abubakar from Zamfara, Ismail Dahiru Nuhu from Plateau, and Nasiru Dahiru Atafowa from Bauchi. The female representatives are Khadijah Aliyu Ubam from Nasarawa, Zeenat Olawumi Hamzat from Oyo, and Hafsa Yakubu Idris from Kano. These six, along with winners from other categories, will now represent Nigeria on the international stage.
Professor Ishaq Oloyede, the NSCIA Secretary-General, reaffirmed that only the winners of this competition are eligible to represent Nigeria internationally. He also highlighted the Centre for Islamic Studies as the sole coordinating body for Qur’anic competitions in the country.
Oloyede issued a stern warning against unethical practices, particularly the act of attempting to represent another nation after participating as a Nigerian in the competition. He emphasized that such actions would incur severe penalties.
“The right to dual citizenship is indisputable, but it is improper for a participant who has represented Nigeria in this year’s competition to represent another nation at international Qur’anic competitions for the same year,” Oloyede said. He stressed that the NSCIA would take strict action against anyone involved in misrepresenting Nigeria on the global Qur’anic stage.