By Deji Abdulwahab
(NAN) The Kogi State Council of Ulama of Nigeria has thrown its weight behind the newly appointed Chairman of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), Amb. Ismail Yusuf.
The clerics described yusuf’s emergence as a product of merit and moral credibility.
The endorsement is contained in a statement issued in Abuja on Sunday by Hajiya Fatima Usara, Deputy Director, Information and Publications Division, NAHCON
Usara said that the endorsement came when the clerics paid a courtesy visit to the NAHCON headquarters in Abuja.
She said that a delegation led by the Council’s Chairman, Sheikh Salman Adam Imam, congratulated the new helmsman and offered prayers for a successful tenure.
“The council said that Yusuf’s appointment was underpinned by a distinguished career, tested administrative competence and enduring contributions to ethical development.
“It said that his track record positions him to steer the Commission at a critical juncture,” she said.
According to her, the clerics further underscored the symbolic significance of his emergence.
“They pointed out that Yusuf is the first indigene of Kogi State, and indeed the North-central geopolitical zone, to head the commission since its establishment nearly three decades ago.
“Describing the appointment as a moment of collective pride, the Council extended congratulations to the Muslim Ummah nationwide, with particular reference to the people of Kogi and the North-central region.”
Usara said that the group also expressed appreciation to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the well-considered decision, voicing confidence that the new chairman’s experience and leadership acumen will reposition NAHCON and restore institutional confidence.
She said that it also called on the commission’s management, staff, and other stakeholders across the Muslim community, to rally behind Yusuf to address systemic challenges and reinvigorate the agency’s operational efficiency.
“A formal letter of congratulations was presented to the chairman during the visit.
“Prayers were, thereafter, offered for the success of his tenure and the overall progress of the commission,” she said.
Meanwhile, Yusuf expressed gratitude for the show of solidarity, describing the visit as both humbling and encouraging.
He pledged to justify the confidence reposed in him, assuring that his leadership would strive to surpass expectations and deliver measurable improvements in the commission’s performance. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
Edited by Kadiri Abdulrahman
