By Bashir Bello, Abuja
A Kaduna-based Christian cleric, Pastor Dr. Yohanna Buru, has honoured a Muslim scholar, Sheikh Usman Mohammed Mai-Mota (Gwalli), for dedicating more than five decades to Islamic education and training thousands of young people.
Pastor Buru, the General Overseer of Christ Evangelical and Life Intervention Ministry, led a delegation of Christian clerics to Sheikh Usman’s school, where they presented the recognition in appreciation of his contribution to Islamic education and community development.
Speaking during the visit, Pastor Buru said Sheikh Usman had spent over 50 years teaching Qur’an, Hadith, Tafsir, Arabic and other aspects of Islamic studies to children and youths from different parts of Northern Nigeria.
He said many of those who passed through the scholar’s school had gone on to become Islamic scholars, Arabic teachers and lecturers in various schools, centres and institutions across the country.
According to Pastor Buru, the recognition was intended to encourage Sheikh Usman to continue his efforts in educating young people despite his advancing age.
He described the scholar’s contribution as a significant service to humanity, stressing that individuals who dedicate their lives to educating thousands of young people deserve to be recognised and encouraged.
“We came to honour him, appreciate his contribution and thank him for the service he has rendered to humanity through Islamic education,” Pastor Buru said.
He added that the recognition was also part of efforts to promote peaceful coexistence and strengthen relationships between Muslims and Christians in Kaduna State.
Pastor Buru, who was recognised during the United Nations World Interfaith Harmony Week in 2022, said the work of Sheikh Usman had contributed to producing generations of Islamic teachers and scholars.
The delegation said available research indicated that Sheikh Usman had trained more than 10,000 youths, many of whom are now working as Arabic teachers, Islamic scholars and lecturers in different parts of Northern Nigeria.
Also speaking, Pastor Emmanuel John described Sheikh Usman’s contribution as remarkable, saying his commitment to educating young people with Islamic knowledge had made a lasting impact.
He said the visit was not only to honour the scholar but also to strengthen mutual respect and understanding between Christians and Muslims.
“We came to commend his remarkable contribution and strengthen the relationship between Muslims and Christians, with the aim of promoting peace, unity and better understanding in the state,” he said.
Responding, Sheikh Usman Mohammed Mai-Mota (Gwalli) expressed gratitude to the Christian delegation for the honour, describing it as the first award he had received in his more than 50 years of teaching.
He said he had spent decades teaching Arabic, Hadith, Qur’an and other Islamic studies, and had trained more than 10,000 youths who are now teaching and lecturing at Islamic centres, schools and institutions across the 19 northern states.
Sheikh Usman said that although he was now getting older, the recognition had renewed his commitment to continue educating young Muslims.
He thanked the Christian clerics for honouring him and prayed for God to bless them for their efforts towards promoting peace and understanding between the two faith communities.
“This is the first award I have received in my life for dedicating myself to educating youths who can today read and recite the Holy Qur’an,” he said.
