(http://fmi.gov.ng/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/Vice-President-Sambo2-424x336-300x237.jpg) The Vice President, Arc. Mohammed Namadi Sambo has called on Muslim scholars (Ulama) to continue to promote unity, peace and security of the nation in their daily preaching.
The Vice President made this call at the closing ceremony of the 27th Qur'anic recitation competition in Gusau, Zamfara State.
Arc Sambo, who noted the pivotal role the Ulama play in providing spiritual guidance to the Muslims, commended their efforts at ensuring proper and accurate interpretation of the holy books of Islam to guide Muslims in their daily affairs.
"We must commend the Ulamas who have always provided spiritual guidance to Muslims. While we note with delight their efforts at ensuring proper and accurate interpretation of the Holy book to guide Muslims in their day to day conduct, we urge them to place the unity, peace and security of the nation as an important element in their daily preaching", said the Vice President.
Similarly, the Vice President reiterated the Federal Government's drive towards the provision of qualitative basic education to all children of school age. In this regard, Sambo stated that the Federal Government has developed a model which integrates Western Education and Islamic Education. He stated that contracts had been awarded for some schools to accommodate out-of-school children and Almajirai, some of which have been completed and commissioned.
"Accordingly, government has planned to build more of such schools up to100 across the country with more emphasis and concentration in the Northern part of the country", said Sambo.
The Vice President congratulated the standing committee and the Zamfara State Government for their respective roles in the promotion of the annual event, which objectives were the promotion of unity and the enhancement of the quality of learning and sciences of the Qur'an in all schools and colleges throughout the country.
Speaking earlier, the host Governor, Abdul Aziz Yari stated that by the various representations drawn from across the states, the event has provided an avenue for strengthening unity and cordiality among the Ummah. He described the event as epochal and a great source of joy to the people of Zamfara as well as the entire Muslims in the country.
Also speaking, the Sultan of Sokoto Muhammad Sa'ad Abubakar called on the Ummah to uphold the tenets of the religion of Islam. He thanked the Vice President for his continuous support to the Ummah and for honouring the invitations extended to him.
The Sultan assured governments at all levels of their readiness to assist in bringing solutions to problems affecting the country.
The high point of the event was the turbaning of the male winner (Gwarzon shekara) and the veiling of female winner (Gwarzuwar Shekara) who where the two winners of the first category from Kano and Bauchi states respectively.
Various dignitaries graced the occasion amongst who were former President Shehu Shagari, former Zamfara State Governor, Ahmed Yerima, past and serving Governors, Ministers and Diplomats.
The Qur'anic competition was started in 1986 by the Centre for Islamic Studies Usman Danfodio University, Sokoto and since then, it has become an annual national event.
Via: Federal Ministry of Information (FMI) Nigeria