As Nigerians continue to voice out their divergent views since the announcement of the Nigeria Quran Convention earlier known as Quran Festival, organisers have gone far in preparation for the grand event.
The Convention, which the organisers said will be a celebration of the profound and long-standing tradition of Quranic knowledge in Nigeria, that is rooted in the values of faith, learning, and unity, the convention “seeks to build a stronger, more unified Ummah by bringing together Muslims from diverse cultural, linguistic, and institutional backgrounds under the banner of the Holy Quran.”
They noted that the Quran remains ‘One Book, One Faith’ for One Ummah and will be celebrated through the historic gathering, honouring the remarkable achievements of Quranic memorization, recitation, and intellectual excellence.
According to the flyer of the event in circulation, the Convention billed for February 22, 2025, will feature Quran Recitation to showcase exceptional Quranic reciters; Calligraphy to appreciate intellectual feats of writing the Quran by heart; emphasise the importance of One Book that connects with a community of Quranic scholars.
The organisers said the Convention is a significant cultural and spiritual celebration that will foster unity and inspire future generations.
However, many faithful criticize the programme especially after it was alleged that the event would be bankrolled by the Tinubu administration in their effort to deploy religious scholars to galvanise support for the president’s reelection bid in 2027. The organisers denied such allegation.
Despite some controversies over the event, many prominent scholars have thrown their weight behind the event scheduled to hold at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium Abuja.
WikkiTimes findings also revealed that the event has gained support from many of the leadership of Jama’atu Izalatil Bid’ah wa Iqamatus Sunnah (JIBWIS), Kaduna headquarters, Tijjaniyya Sufi Order, the Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) under the leadership of Sultan Sa’ad Abubakar III among others.
However, the Sheikh Sani Yahaya Jingir’s led faction of the JIBWIS with headquarters in Jos has disassociated itself from the project.
Below are some clerics who have publicly endorsed the vent.
Sultan Sa’ad Abubakar: As the spiritual leader of faithful in Nigeria and head of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), he is to chair the event. The Council has been highlighting that the convention is a celebration of decade long tradition of Qur’anic knowledge in Nigeria. He maintained that the event is to build a stronger, more unified Muslim Ummah tied under the banner of the Holy Qur’an.
Sheikh Bala Lau: A JIBWIS leader (Kaduna) has not just endorsed it but has also been promoting the event, he argued that it is significant which can serve as an avenue to bring together various Islamic sects to deliberate and celebrate the Qur’an as a common ground.
Sheikh Kabiru Haruna Gombe is the national secretary of the Bala Lau led JIBWIS and despite his repeated disagreement with the Dariqa and Tijjaniyya followers, he has thrown weight behind the event that will bring the two closer.
Sheikhs Bala Lau and Gombe have orgainised a lecture to highlights the importance of the event in Abuja on Tuesday January 28.
Sheikh Qaribullah Nasiru Kabara: He is is the spiritual leader of the Qadiriyya Sufi Order in Nigeria and West Africa, a position he has held since 1996 following the passing of his father, Sheikh Muhammad Nasir Kabara. In addition to his leadership within the Qadiriyya Order, Sheikh Qaribullah has been actively involved in various Islamic educational initiatives and conference. He has participated thrown his weight in support of the Convention.
Prof. Sani Umar Rijiyar Lemo: A professor of hadith at the Bayero University in the ancient City of Kano, he has justified the event. At a lecture in BUK Masjid, he took time to explain the significance of the convention.
Dr Bashir Aliyu Umar: Chief Imam of Alfurqan Mosque in Kano and a lecturer also in BUK’s Islamic Studies department, he is versed in Islamic Finance and Jurisprudence. He has also shown support for the programme.
Sheikh Ahmed Sulaiman Ibrahim: A topnotch Qur’anic reciter has traversed the country reciting the glorious book. He appeared in preaching, Quranic exegesis and lectures alongside Sheikh Bala Lau and Kabiru Gombe among others. He also justified the event.
Sheikh Ibrahim Dahiru Usman Bauchi: A son to renowned Islamic cleric, Sheikh Dahiru Usman Bauchi, Ibrahim followed his father’s footprint by being a key figure in the Tijaniyyah Sufi order, which is one of the largest Sufi movements in West Africa. He often represents his father and became a spokesperson to the Grand Khalifah of Faydah at Tijjaniyya in Nigeria. He is part of the organisers.
Dr. Ibrahim Jalo Jalingo is the National Chairman of the Council of Ulama of the Bala Lau led JIBWIS faction. Like other top leaders of the sect, Dr Jalo is also a key advocate of the convention. He has made a number of Facebook posts justifying the programme.
Sheikh Nasiru Muhammad Al-Muktar Kabara. The Kano based cleric from the Qadiriyya Sufi Order has played a vital role in Islamic scholarship in Nigeria through his publications. He was influential in the propagation of Islamic teachings and brotherhood among Muslims. He supports the convention.