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By: Manoah Kikekon
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| Hon. Mobolaji Ogunlende, the commissioner of youths and social development, Lagos State. |
Hon. Mobolaji Ogunlende, commissioner for youth and social development Lagos State, and Pioneer Real Act of Kindness RAK Development Foundation have organised the fourth edition of Badagry Quran recitation competition to encourage the teaching of Quran.
The competition was held on Sunday at Central Mosque in Badagry, Lagos State.
Ogunlende said the essence of this is to make sure kids learn and master the Quran so we can have good citizens in our state, as it will benefit our community if we can catch them young.
The competition was in two categories: in the junior category, Osolo Qarib came first, Ilyas Firdaus second, and Saliu Khadija third, While in senior category, Muhammad Tayibah came first, Muhammad Anas came second, and Yayhya Mubarak came third. The first position got N100,000, second got N70,000, and the third got N50,000 each.
"The whole intention is to see how we can continue to teach our kids the Islamic religion to continue to encourage them to recite the Quran. The importance of learning the Quran, living by the Quran and imbibing the words of Quran.
"That is the joy we have here that shows what we are doing is beneficial to the kids because if they able to learn the Quran and master it, then we will start to have good citizens in our state at a very young age," Ogunlende said.
He further saud, "I will also use this time to acknowledge the Christians that are fasting, This is a significant period as both religions are fasting at the same time. I will like to implore everyone to take this opportunity to not only pray for ourselves or family but also for our state and, of course, our country, Nigeria.
"We are aware of the economic hardships, prayers, Policies, and we as humans are also part of it. By the time we combine all of this together, we hope and pray that Nigeria will become a better place."
Adding that, "for national development, as you know, the community makes the state, and the state makes the federation. If we have good products from the community, we can start translating it to the top to ensure that we have good citizens at the state and federal levels. In anything we do, religion is key."
Shaik Abdle Hammid Ishola, the chief Immam Badagry, said Ramadan is very important in the history of Islam as it has many benefits.
"This programme aims at improving Arabic education, as it is improving the participants. Badagry is growing, and from what I can see today, Quran is the manual of the Muslims. There's nothing you are looking for in life that it won't put you through, for the development of the country Quran is important, there is a verse that said we should uphold justice," he said.
Muhammad Tayibah came first in the senior category she said, she had prepared with consistent night reading, "Thanks to Mobolaji Ogunlende, and thanks to RAK Foundation."