Religious leaders urge Nigerians to reject intolerance, violence as Qur’anic graduates told to become ambassadors of peace

The Kano Emirate and Islamic scholars have called on Nigerians to intensify prayers for a peaceful, credible and successful 2027 general election, warning that the country’s stability will depend largely on the ability of citizens and leaders to embrace tolerance, discipline and responsible conduct.

The appeal was made at a Qur’anic graduation ceremony marking the completion of the recitation and memorisation of the Holy Qur’an, where traditional and religious leaders used the occasion to call for stronger moral upbringing of Nigerian children ahead of another politically sensitive electoral cycle.

Representing the Emir of Kano at the ceremony, the Sadauki of Kano, Awal Ado Bayero, congratulated the graduates and their parents, but charged the students to see the completion of their Qur’anic studies as the beginning of a lifelong responsibility to live by the values they had learnt.

Bayero said the teachings of the Qur’an could play an important role in promoting peaceful coexistence, good character and responsible citizenship, particularly at a time when the country is preparing for the 2027 elections.

“As we approach the 2027 general elections, we pray that the children will continue to pray for the country and that Nigeria will have a successful, peaceful and credible election,” he said.

He urged the graduates to remain committed to Qur’anic recitation and memorisation, while calling on parents and older generations to ensure that the values contained in the Holy Book were transmitted to their children and grandchildren.

According to him, religious and moral education remains critical to developing young people capable of contributing positively to society and resisting negative influences.

The call assumed wider significance as other speakers at the ceremony linked the moral upbringing of children to the broader challenge of building a peaceful and secure Nigeria.

The wife of the Katsina State Governor, Dr Aisha Bala Muhammed, who was represented at the event, described the completion of the Qur’an as a major achievement and urged the graduates to make its teachings the foundation of their lives.

She prayed that the knowledge acquired would shape their character, decisions and relationships with others.

“May He make the Quran a light in your heart, a guide throughout your life, and a source of peace and blessings for you and your family,” she said.

She also urged the students to demonstrate their faith through conduct, stressing that knowledge of the Qur’an must translate into good character, greater faith and responsible behaviour.

Similarly, the wife of the Speaker of the Bauchi State House of Assembly, Hajia Abi Hafsat Abubakar Y. Suleiman, said the programme was designed to strengthen the religious and moral upbringing of children and prepare them to become responsible members of society.

Suleiman, co-founder of the Nabalago Foundation established by her husband, Right Honourable Dr Abubakar Y. Suleiman, disclosed that the foundation was sponsoring students from three Islamic schools participating in the programme.

She said the challenges confronting Nigerian society made it imperative for parents, schools and religious institutions to give children proper moral and religious education.

“We need to ensure that our children have a proper understanding of their faith and are equipped with the basic knowledge and values of Islam,” she said.

Suleiman challenged the graduates to become living examples of the values they had learnt, particularly peace, tolerance and good character.

“It is not just about being Muslims; it is about representing what Islam stands for, which is peace,” she said.

She said young Nigerians could help correct misconceptions about Islam not merely through words but by demonstrating its principles through their daily conduct.

“There are many misconceptions about Islam today, so we want our children to go out there and demonstrate through their conduct and everyday activities what Islam truly represents. We want people to see through them that Islam is a religion of peace, tolerance and good character,” she said.

The Principal of the Abuja National Mosque Academy, Dr Shehu Usman Mohamad, said the essence of Qur’anic education was not simply to produce children who could recite and memorise the Holy Book, but to raise Muslims capable of applying its teachings to everyday life.

“The idea behind this Quranic graduation ceremony is to teach our children how to live their lives according to the teachings of the Holy Quran. The Quran contains instructions and guidance for Muslims to follow throughout their lives,” he said.

Mohamad linked moral education directly to Nigeria’s security and social challenges, arguing that greater adherence to the principles of the Qur’an could help reduce crime, conflict and other forms of social disorder.

“I believe that if people abide by the teachings of the Holy Quran, many of the security challenges and social problems we are experiencing today will be reduced,” he said.

He urged the graduates to take the lessons they had acquired into their communities and demonstrate peaceful coexistence with neighbours and other members of society.

The messages from the Kano Emirate and the religious leaders collectively placed renewed emphasis on the role of families and faith-based institutions in shaping the behaviour of young Nigerians as the country moves towards the 2027 elections.

They urged parents, religious leaders and the wider society to sustain investment in moral and religious education, stressing that Nigeria needs a generation capable of rejecting violence, intolerance and divisive conduct.

The speakers also charged the Qur’anic graduates to continue their studies and ensure that their knowledge was reflected in their character and dealings with others.

As political activities gradually intensify ahead of the 2027 polls, the religious leaders’ appeal adds their voices to the growing calls for Nigerians to protect national peace and ensure that political competition does not degenerate into violence or division.

For the graduates, however, the message went beyond the coming election: the true measure of their Qur’anic education, the speakers stressed, would ultimately be seen not in how much they could recite, but in how they lived, treated others and contributed to the peace and stability of Nigeria. (Arise News)

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