By Abdullahi Yusuf
The Special Adviser to the President on Senate Matters, Sen.Basheer Lado, has convened the Abibatu Mogaji Tinubu Memorial Qur’anic Recitation Competition in memory of the late Alhaja Abibat Mogaji Tinubu.
“I am deeply honored to convene the Abibatu Mogaji Tinubu Memorial Qur’anic Recitation Competition in memory of the late Alhaja Abibat Mogaji Tinubu, OON, MFR a mother, a matriarch, and a towering figure in both Nigerian commerce and Islamic devotion,” Sen. Lado said in a statement circulated to newsmen in Kano on Tuesday.
The initiative,he said,is not a political gathering, nor is it tied to any campaign or partisan agenda.
“It is a tribute to a woman whose life was defined by her devotion to Islam and her impact on commerce,” he said.
Sen.Lado said the competition, which commenced on April 21st, 2025, had drawn participation from over 4,400 young male and female Qur’an reciters across all the 44 Local Government Areas of Kano State.
“From each LGA, 10 exceptional participants were selected, resulting in a total of 440 contestants who have advanced to the zonal stages.
“These contestants are now competing across five categories of recitation, namely: Juz 2, Juz 10, Juz 20, Juz 40 and Juz 60,” he said.
Following a rigorous selection process, Sen.Lado said,30 finalists were chosen from each of the five zones in Kano, leading to a total of 150 state-level finalists, comprising 75 males and 75 females.
“These finalists are competing now leading to the Grand Finale scheduled to hold on Saturday 31st May 2025 at 10 a.m. at Meena Events Center, Kano.
“We are honored to host renowned judges and scholars from Nigeria,Algeria and including eminent scholars from Al-Azhar University in Egypt,the second oldest and most prestigious Islamic university in the world. Their presence speaks to the global significance and credibility of this competition,” he said.
According to him,the choice of Kano State as the host location was deliberate, explaining that Kano remains a beacon of Islamic learning and Qur’anic excellence,as the state has produced globally celebrated Qur’an reciters.
These, Sen.Lado said, included Gwani Hafiz Mohamed Danbirni – 1st Place, Dubai (2003)
and Gwani Mohamed Sani Lawan – 2nd Place, Saudi Arabia (2005).
“This competition is a celebration of motherhood, faith, and legacy.
“May this initiative inspire a revival of learning, unity, and spiritual excellence across our great nation,” he added.