Barely a few weeks after three young boys emerged winners of the president’s sponsored Quranic memorisation competition in the male category, another set of 47 female contestants well versed in the holy scriptures are set to battle it out in the second phase of the competition.

Officials of The Gambia Supreme Islamic Council (GSIC) the body mandated to steer and coordinate the competition, said at the starting of the competition on Friday that it has registered 47 young females, who are considered well enough to recite the Holy Quran by heart, and judging among them will be based on the values of fair play and impartiality.

Friday’s opening ceremony was presided over by the minister of Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology, Dr Mariam Sarr-Ceesay. Also in attendance was the minister of Tourism and Culture, Aja Fatou Mass Jobe-Njie, among a host of others. Various scholars, who spoke at the opening ceremony at the GSIC Doha International Conference Hall in Kanifing, described the initiation as both unprecedented and historic in the history of The Gambia and in Africa at large. 

Sheikh Oustass Essa Darboe, a member of the organising committee recalled those days when people took pride in women being able to recite chapters in the Holy Quran that would enable them perform their daily prayers. He described the scenario today as a completely different one, saying that the competition does not only instill motivation among children in Madarassas but also shake up their minds. He justified his assertions by pointing out that performance in Madarassa schools from the last two months to date improved significantly.

Sheikh Alhaji Gibril Kujabi, Sheikh Cherno Darboe and Sheikh Sheriff Badjan, the first vice president of the GSIC, all commended President Jammeh for creating a platform for people to compete in the course of Islam. They both agreed that President Jammeh’s humanitarian efforts during the months of Ramadan, and other Islamic ceremonies bare testimonies to the high esteem he has for Islam.

The minister for Higher Education Research Science and Technology, Dr Mariam Sarr-Ceesay described the event as very important and made reference to the belief that, “if you educate a woman, you educate a nation”. She urged the female contestants to work hard to propagate the teachings of Islam to others. Dr Sarr-Ceesay used the forum to also urge Gambian women to remain united and pray for everlasting peace in the country.

The scholars also sought for prayers from the gathering, for God’s guidance and protection for the president and the people of The Gambia. Meanwhile, the contestants are being hosted at the GSIC headquarters in Kanifing for the period of the competition. The president has also donated an additional sum D121, 000 meant to cover the administrative costs of the competition.