Borno State governor, Prof. Babaganda Zulum has commended the Theatre Commander OPHK Major General Ibrahim Ali and the Commander Sector 3 Operation Hadin Kai and Multi National Joint Task Force, Major General AE Abubakar for initiating Theatre Commander’s sponsored maiden Quranic recitation competition for youths drawn from communities in Northern Borno which he said was aimed at inculcating positive virtues and the fear of Allah in the youths of Monguno and Northern Borno in general.
Acting Deputy Director Army Public Relations Sector 3 OPHK/MNJTF, Captain Babatunde Zubairu who made this known in statement said the Governor also commended the military for the non kinetic programme as well as the handsome cash awards attached to the exercise particularly the sponsorship of the winner to Umrah (Lesser Hajj) at the Holy Land in Mecca.
Prof Zulum (SGOH) who was represented by the Vice Chairman of Monguno Local Government Area, Hon Sanda Modu commended the initiative which he said was aimed at inculcating positive virtues and the fear of Allah in the youths of Monguno and Northern Borno in general.
He stated that the competition would benefit the youths and further enhance the cordial relationship between the civil and military components.
He added that “as a people, we are very optimistic that the competition would give a lasting impression and go a long way in winning the hearts and minds of the people of Northern Borno.”
Gov Zulum further expressed immense appreciation to the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Faruk Yahaya for his doggedness and resoluteness in tackling the myriads of security challenges bedeviling the country.
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Earlier in his welcome address, the Sector 3 Commander Operation Hadin Kai and Multi National Joint Task Force, Major General AE Abubakar disclosed that the Quranic recitation competition was the brain child of the Theatre Commander, Major General IS Ali whose visionary leadership spurred up the innovative idea to further reinforce the non kinetic lines of operations in the war against insurgency.
Also in his remarks, the Theatre Commander and sponsor of the competition, Major General Ali emphasized on the importance of the competition, which was to arouse the spiritual consciousness of the youths.
He added that events of this nature would continue to improve on the already established and robust synergy between the military and the civil populace.
He stated that “in Islam, seeking knowledge was the key for religious, moral and social development of mankind”
He added that the spiritual exercise was a way of bringing back the heritage and practices of the indigenes to foster and promote virtuous morals as well as Islamic tenets and most importantly, to serves as a non kinetic means to dissuade the minds of the youths from terrorist activities in Northern Borno.
The program was initiated in a bid to strengthen the existing civil-military cooperation between the military and the host communities as well as to sustain the momentum of the fight against insurgency.
Participants of the competition who were drawn from Monguno, Baga, Cross Kauwa and Gajiram keenly contested for the star prize which was won by Muhammed Nur Mustapha that earned him the sponsorship to lesser Hajj in Mecca.
The first and second runner up, Zaharadeen Yusuf and Mohammed Ali won the sum of N300,00 and N200,000 respectively. Other side attractions and prizes won included Best Dressed, Best Voice Over, and Best Reciter of the Holy Quran.
Dignitaries present for the competition included Principal Staff Officers of Headquarters Theatre Command and Sector 3 Operation Hadin Kai, Commanders of 19, 403 and 38 Brigades as well as other formation and unit commanders.
Others were the District Head of Monguno, Alhaji Zanna Bulama Sadu, Chief Imam of Monguno, Alhaji Liman Kaumi, Islamic Scholars in Moguno, District Heads from Kukawa and Nganzai LGAs and the Hon Chairman of Kukawa LGA as well as other stakeholders and members of the host communities.
