Knowledge they say is power and there is no limitation to how far one can go in seeking knowledge even if it means travelling as far as China as prescribed by Allah, our creator.

Little wonder, therefore, when some Kwara state contingents on Qur'an memorisation travelled as far as Gusau, the Zamfara state capital to compete for honours and laurels in the 2013 national Qur'an recitation competition.

The competition which was the 27th edition of the event, drew participants from across the 36 states of the federation including the Federal Capital Territory, who converged on the Sharia town of Gusau, Zamfara state capital in northern Nigeria for the annual spiritual intellectual exercise between March 22-31, 2013.

The event was preceded by days of camping and training of contingents by the Committee on national Quar'an recitation competition under the chairmanship of Alhaji Abdusalam Ayinla Ayilara, a retired broadcaster and former Group General Manager of the state Radio and Television stations.

Expectedly, expectations were high among Ulamas from the ancient Islamic City of Ilorin and the state as a whole, considering the state's track records of achievements in the previous editions of the national events.

For the purpose of record, Kwara state came first in the 1999 edition held in Yola, Adamawa state and represented Nigeria in the International event held in Makkah, Saudi Arabia in 2000.

Since then, the state has been consistent in the events and wining laurels at different editions.

For the importance attached to the event, the state Ministry of Education and Human Capital Development, some 25 years ago established the Qur'an recitation Committee to imbibe moral, educational and spiritual development in the youth, who will become tomorrow's leaders .

Therefore, this year's edition was given the seriousness it deserved from the committee, stakeholders and government, to ensure that the state representatives come out in flying colours.

Those efforts, which culminated in the success recorded by the sate ambassadors in this year's edition held in Zamfara where three of them won prices at different categories.

Just last week the Ministry organised a reception in honour of the state ambassadors where prices won at the events were presented to them .

The occasion held at the premises of the Kwara State Ministry of Education and Human Capital Development was a modest one devoid of unnecessary jamboree that usually greeted such events.

Perhaps, because of the spiritual importance attached to it, the gathering was that of Islamic scholars, jurists, stakeholders in the education sector as well as friends, family members and well wishers of the state ambassadors at the just concluded events.

They all gathered to honour the state representatives in an event that can best be described as a day of glory for the ambassadors. From the reception venue, the ambassadors dressed in ceremonial Islamic attire (Alkimba) with a turban ,moved in a motorcade to the Emir's palace where they received the Emir's blessings.

The three winners, Abdul-Rafiu Abdul-Hayyi from Ilorin East scored 94.9% marks to place 3rd in the 6th category of male competition featuring memorisation of Hizbs from the Holy Qur'an while SodiqAbubakarAlabi from Ifelodun local government scored 94.9% to place 5thamong memorisers of 2/3 of the holy Qur'an.

And the third winner, is a female competitor, Maryam Muhammed Thani from Asa local government. He scored 95.6% to win 2ndposition in 6th category of female competition featuring memorisation of 2 Hizbs.

Each of the three winners won a car, a hajj seat, computer laptop and a digital Qur'an plus cash prices of N20,000, N25,000 and N30,000 each.

Speaking at the presentation of the prices to the winners in Ilorin last weekend, the state Commissioner for Education and Human Capital Development, AlhajiSakaOnimago, told the winners to see their victory as a challenge to soar higher in subsequent competition.

Represented by the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, AlhajiLamidiAlabi, the commissioner said the excellent performances of the contestant is a manifestation of the education reform agenda of the state government.

"This commitment was given a boost in this year's annual budget where the education sector was given the highest allocation of N8billion to further promote educational development .Priority attention is also being accorded inclusive education where the "Every Child Count" principle is being practiced .It is in the this context that the excellent performances of our contestants is being celebrated and appreciated because it represents an eloquent demonstration of the successful outcomes of the state Education Reform Agenda", Onimago said .

But like Oliver Twist, the Qur'an Recitation Committee also used the occasion to appeal for more support and assistance that will make the state representatives perform better in subsequent editions.

Delivering his address at the ceremony, the state Coordinator of the Committee, Alhaji Aliyy-Kamal, called on the state government to establishment its own Centre for Qur'an memorisation; as it is in some states of the federation.

"Increase annual financial support to the Committee in organising the competition at both the local and state levels; as well as camping and training of the competitors for higher productivity", he added.

The Committee also want the state government to make knowledge of Arabic Compulsory for Muslim Children/Students from Nursery to University level to enhance the knowledge of Qur'an and place the Chief Trainer of the state competitors on special salary that should be release to the committee to pay him monthly as and when due.

In his address, the Committee Chairman, Alhaji Abdulsalam Ayilara recalled that the success recorded since the establishment of the Committee in 1987 in promoting science and arts of Qur'an memorisation in the state in particular and the nation in general has been remarkable.

"Our children from various local governments in the state have continue to make us proud. Al-hamdullilahi".

Ayilara said though the state had won prices in the past, this year's edition was significant because it was the first time the state competitors won the valuable car prices since it began in Sokoto in 2001.

He was full of praises to individuals who have been supporting the committee just as he called for more support to sustain and surpassed the feat recorded in subsequent editions.