This year’s Train the Trainers Workshop for facilitators of hajj bita classes, local government hajj affairs officers and other hajj stakeholders organized by the state Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board has commenced in Bauchi.
Declaring the training open today at the Conference Hall of Bauchi Central Mosque, the Special Adviser to the state Governor on Hajj Affairs Alhaji Isa Babayo Tilde, called on the participants to use the knowledge they will acquire to ensure the successful conduct of the exercise.
Alhaji Isa Babayo expressed the commitment of the Governor Bala Abdulkadir Muhammad administration to accord the desired priority towards ensuring the overall success of the 2021 HAJJ exercise.
He applauded the Governor for the construction of a befitting hajj camp in the state which he described as the best in Nigeria.
The Special Adviser who called on intending pilgrims to make best use of the facility, enjoyed them to continue to pray for the present administration at home and while at the holy land, to enable it adequately tackle the challenges ahead.
Alhaji Isa Babayo used the forum to call for hamonious relationship between the Islamic clerics and politicians for the interest of the religion and the state.
Earlier, in his welcome address, the Chairman of the State Pilgrims Welfare Board Imam Bala Ahmad Baban Inna, explained that the workshop was aimed at equipping the participants with the do’s and don’ts of Hajj exercise.
The Chairman noted that acts of worship are not done in ignorance, hence the need for Muslim to seek for knowledge to enable them carry out their religious obligations.
The chairman called on the participants to be attentive and ask relevant questions where necessary for the overall success of the exercise.
In an interview with newsmen shortly after the opening ceremony, the Executive Secretary of the State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board Alhaji Abubakar Babangida Tafida Tafidan Giade, stated that Bala administration is committed to ensuring that Bauchi retains it’s name as a pace setter in the organization of HAJJ exercise.
The Executive Secretary enlisted the support of the Islamic clerics and other stakeholders in achieving successes during the forthcoming hajj exercise.
He stressed that the role of Islamic clerics in hajj management cannot be overemphasize especially in the area of Pilgrims education and enlightenment.
Babangida Tafida further re iterated the commitment of the Government to ensure Pilgrims have value for their money through improve service delivery.
He used the forum to called on all state intending pilgrims to ensure that they are vaccinated against COVID-19. adding that Saudi Arabia declared the vaccination as part of the criteria to allow Pilgrims to enter Saudi Arabia for hajj and Umra.
Meanwhile various resorce persons have presented papers on different related topics and the workshop will end on Thursday, 8 April.