By Abdul Aziz
Chernor Ahmad Oumar Jalloh from the Western Area has become the winner of the sixth National Quranic competition organised by the Foundation of Islamic Information Sierra Leone (FOISIL), on the 19th May 2019 at the Fourah Bay College Amphitheater.
The National Quranic competition is an event organized annually to identify talented Quranic reciters, motivate others to memorize the Quran and to identify a representative to represent Sierra Leone at the Annual Dubai International Quranic memorization competition.Every year, the competition brings together representatives from the East, West, North and South of the country to compete in reciting 15,20 and 30 parts of the Quran.
In his Address, Abdul Lathief Kargbo, the Director of FOISIL expressed delight for having hosted the National Quran competition for the sixth time. He told the audience that he is very proud that the competition brings together the whole of Sierra Leone to listen to the Quran and make them aware of the need to study it.
While declaring the event open, the First Lady of the Republic Of Sierra Leone Madam Fatima Bio assured the audience of her husband’s support in promoting Islamic education in Sierra Leone. She said that this event gives face lift to Islam and must not be taken carelessly. She noted that women have played a great role in promoting Islam since the days of the prophets and that their role goes beyond just being in the kitchen. She challenged the audience to take the next National Quranic competition to the National Stadium that has a larger space to accommodate more people than the amphitheater.
At the end of the competition, results for the 15, 20 and 30 category the Quran were announced by the chief judge, Shk Faruq Adam Bah, who doubles as the consultant of FOISIL.
Chernor Ahmad Oumar Jalloh from the Western Area emerged winner in the whole Quran category, making him the champion of this year’s competition with 95% and a take home of Ten Million Leones. His counterpart from the East Mahamed M Jagitay became the runner-up, Mohamed Bhoye Bah from the North-West Region took third position, Haja Idrissa Jalloh from the South and Fatima Sathur Bah from the North who were the only female participants in the competition took the fourth and fifth positions respectively.
Mahamed Adam Jalloh from the Western Area came first in the fifteen parts category of the Quran with 97%, Habibu Jabbie from the Eastern Region became the runner-up.Hassan Mohamed Koroma from North-West Region, Sheku Yakub Kanneh from the Northern Region and Mahmoud Jalloh from the Southern Region took third, fourth and fifth positions respectively.
In the twenty parts category of the competition, Ibrahim Basoun from the western Area emerged winner. Abdullah Mahmud Jagitay from the Eastern Region became the runner-up, Mohamed Sallieu Jalloh from the Southern Region, Idrissa Kanu from the North and Yusuf Turay from North-West took the third, fourth and fifth positions respectively.
The Ambassador Timbo awards given to Dr. Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh, the Vice President Of Sierra Leone. Honorable Chernor Maju Bah was also awarded by the Foundation for his contributions towards the competition.