The administration of Governor Bala Mohammed has approved N100 million to fast track hosting of the 36th edition of the 2022 National Quran Recitation Competition in Bauchi state.

Mr Mohammed stated this at the inauguration of a 57-member Local Organising Committee for the National Qur’anic Recitation Competition on Saturday in Bauchi.

“I wish to say that the Ministry of Religious Affairs in conjunction with Usman Dan Fodio University, Sokoto, and other government agencies, have submitted a budget of N153 million for the competition.

“The state government is providing N100 million for this committee so that the rest would be solicited elsewhere,” he said.

The national competition is scheduled in Bauchi from March 18 to 20.

Mr Mohammed said that this was the third time Bauchi state would host the national competition since its inception in 1986.

He promised that the state government would provide the necessary support to the committee to enable it to conduct a hitch-free competition.

He, however, said that the government frowned at street begging, adding that the state Ministry of Education was geared towards making the schools functional and valuable to all and sundry.

The governor highlighted the terms of reference of the committee to include: “to make a fair, realistic and detailed budget for the financial implication of the event and forward it to the government after its inauguration.”

(NAN)