Damaturu: The Yobe State Arabic and Islamic Education Board (AISEB) on Tuesday inaugurated its Qur'anic Recitation competition at the local government level to honor the late President Muhammadu Buhari. The ceremony, held in Damaturu, commemorated Buhari's contributions following his passing on Sunday, July 13.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Dr. Umar Abubakar, Executive Secretary of AISEB, explained that the event marked the start of the state's 2025 Qur'anic Recitation Competition at the grassroots level. He highlighted that the event's timing coincided with the passing of the late President, and a special prayer was conducted for the repose of his soul. 'We seize this opportunity to offer a special prayer, asking Allah to forgive his shortcomings and bestow mercy upon him. The entire reward of this two-week-long competition is dedicated to him in honour of his contributions to the country,' he said.
The event, in collaboration with Plan International's Yobe Field Office, included the distribution of 99 hygiene kits to Almajiri pupils and the presentation of awards to 300 Islamiyya pupils who excelled in Qur'anic memorisation. Yobe Governor Mai Mala Buni emphasized the importance of Qur'anic education in shaping society's moral and intellectual foundations. Represented by Prof. Bello Kawuwa, the Commissioner for Higher Education, Buni remarked, 'This initiative is part of our broader efforts to advance Qur'anic education in Yobe and Nigeria at large. Qur'anic education plays a vital role in shaping our values, guide our actions, and preserve our religious identity.'
Ms. Halima Jibril, Project Officer at Plan International, Yobe Field Office, highlighted the need to improve hygiene conditions among Almajiri children as the motivation for their support. 'Plan International has been working with AISEB since 2019, supporting the establishment of community schools and providing educational materials. This year, we decided to support hygiene by providing kits containing antiseptic soap, Vaseline, toothbrushes, toothpaste, and other essentials,' she said. She noted that poor hygiene remained a critical challenge among Almajiri children, and such interventions were necessary to promote their health and well-being.