By Usman Aliyu
The Edo Committee on Qur’anic Recitation Competition (Musaabaqah) has selected 10 reciters to represent the state at the 2026 national competition scheduled to hold in Jigawa in December.
The reciters emerged winners in their respective categories at the grand finale of the state competition held on Sunday in Benin City.
Mallam Hamza Usman, Edo Coordinator of the committee, announced the results on Monday, saying about 1,000 students participated in the competitions at the local government and senatorial district levels.
Usman said the selected reciters, comprising males and females, would undergo a one-month training camp to improve their memorisation and fluent recitation of the Holy Qur’an ahead of the national contest.
Earlier, Ahmed Momoh, Special Adviser to Gov. Monday Okpebholo on Islamic Religious Matters, said the competition was designed to encourage children to learn and memorise the Qur’an.
This, he said, would promote Islamic knowledge and moral discipline, and foster unity and peaceful coexistence among Muslims.
Momoh commended the governor for supporting Islamic activities and promoting religious harmony in the state.
In his remarks, Kelvin Danesi, traditional ruler of South Ibie and Chairman of the competition in the state, said the competition had been decentralised to promote wider participation among Muslims across the state’s three senatorial districts.
Danesi said the reforms were intended to address the previous concentration of the competition activities in Edo North and ensure that Muslims in Edo South and Edo Central were also included.
“I want to say that this is the first time Musaabaqah activities have been held in the capital of the state, Benin City.
“We now think that there must be reform. Islamic activities should not be limited or restricted to a part of the state. It should be all-inclusive, and that is why we have embarked on reform,” he said.
Danesi added that recommendations had been made for the appointment of deputy coordinators in each senatorial district to work with the state coordinator and strengthen participation.
“We have children in Edo South and Edo Central, and I can say for sure that they have not been participating actively.
“This is the first time we are extending the programme to Edo South so that nobody will feel excluded or left behind,” he said.
Mr Umar Ikhilor, Secretary to the Edo Government and chairman of the competition, commended the state coordinator and judges for their efforts.
Ikhilor said the competition should encourage Muslim children and their parents to take Qur’anic studies and recitation seriously.
“I believe that, by seeing the participation of these children, it is going to serve as motivation for those who have not yet participated,” he said.
He also commended the governor for supporting religious activities across faiths. (NAN)
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Edited by Chioma Ugboma
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