In a powerful testament to resilience and spiritual revival, Borno State has claimed the overall victory in the male category of the 40th National Qur’anic Recitation Competition, ‘Borno 2025’. The win, announced on December 20, 2025, transcends a mere academic or religious contest; it stands as a national symbol of recovery and the enduring power of faith and education in the face of adversity.
The week-long event, hosted in Maiduguri, saw 296 contestants from 30 states compete across six rigorous categories, including memorization of the entire Qur’an (Hifz), recitation with proper melody (Tajweed), and interpretation (Tafsir). The final results were declared by Prof. Abubakar Yelwa, Director of the Centre for Islamic Studies at Usmanu Dan Fodio University, Sokoto, who serves as a chief arbiter in these prestigious competitions.
Musa Ahmed Musa from Borno was declared the overall male champion, a title that reflects years of dedicated study under the guidance of master reciters (Huffaz). In the female category, Hafsat Muhammad Sada from Kano State secured the overall title, highlighting the deep-rooted tradition of female Islamic scholarship in Northern Nigeria. These champions do not merely recite; they embody the precise oral transmission (Qira’at) of the Qur’an, a tradition preserved for over fourteen centuries.
Governor Babagana Zulum framed the successful hosting of this milestone 40th edition as a definitive signal of the state’s return to peace and normalcy. “Borno is back, Borno is safe and Borno is a centre for learning and spiritual growth,” he declared. For a region that has endured significant challenges, hosting a national gathering of this scale is a profound achievement. It demonstrates restored security, infrastructure, and a communal commitment to values beyond conflict.
“The true spirit of this competition,” Governor Zulum elaborated, “lies not just in the prizes won, but in the noble pursuit of knowledge (Ilm) and the courage to participate.” This underscores a core Islamic principle: the seeking of knowledge is a lifelong obligation (Fard). The discipline required for such competitions—often involving pre-dawn study sessions and years of mentorship—builds character, patience, and intellectual depth that benefits society far beyond the competition hall.
The event’s significance was amplified by the distinguished attendees, including the Wife of the Vice President, Hajiya Nana Kashim Shettima; the Governor of Katsina State, Alhaji Dikko Umoru Radda; the Shehu of Borno, Alhaji Abubakar Ibn Umar Garbai El-Kanemi; and numerous traditional rulers and Islamic scholars. Their presence reinforced the competition’s role as a vital national institution for cultural cohesion and intergenerational transmission of religious heritage.
Ultimately, Borno’s dual victory—as both host and champion—marks more than a successful event. It represents a reclamation of identity. It shows how the deep, scholarly tradition of Qur’anic education (Ilm al-Qur’an) remains a cornerstone for community rebuilding, offering a path of peace, purpose, and profound connection to divine wisdom for Nigeria’s youth.
