Preach peace, national integration, Buhari urges Islamic scholars

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President Muhammadu Buhari has urged the graduating pupils of Al-Ansar Foundation School to utilise their knowledge in fostering national unity and societal integration.
Mr. Buhari made the call at the graduation ceremony of 47 pupils of the school, who memorised and recited complete Qur’an at Emir of Zazzau’s place in Zaria, Kaduna State, on Sunday.
The graduating pupils were between the ages of nine and eleven.
Represented by Fatima Buhari, his daughter, the president called on Islamic scholars across the country to always preach peace, promote fear of God and national integration.
Mr. Buhari described the 47 pupils who memorised complete Qur’an as veritable asset to their families, society, state and the nation at large.
He said it was not an easy task for an adult to memorise the whole Qur’an talk less of children.
In his speech, the chairman of the occasion, Nasiru Sambo, a professor at Ahmadu Bello University, ABU, appealed to attendees to provide funds to boost Qur’anic recitation.
“I learned that where the school is situated is a house belonging to somebody who is living overseas, but will soon return to take back his residence.

“In view of this, I urge each one of us here to earnestly contribute toward assisting the school to stand on its feet to produce more standard and qualitative future leaders,” he pleaded.
Abubakar Jumare, the director of the school, said it was established to produce pupils who would memorise the holy Qur’an at tender age.
“We graduate pupils who can memorise the holy Qur’an at their tender age with the fear of God Almighty. We want to instil standard Islamic education in their minds based on Qur’an and Hadith.

“At the same time, we inculcate on them western education of all fields. Ultimately, the school seeks to produce patriotic, decent and sound future leaders.
“These calibre of graduates with both Islamic and Western education, we believe, will be the set of people any country will be proud of,” Mr. Jumare said.

(NAN)