The Centre for Research in Qur’anic Studies, YSU, has carried out its first regional tour to relevant institutions in some countries in West and North Africa to obtain firsthand information on the acquisition and management of Arabic, Islamic, and Qur’anic Manuscripts research (AIQMR) of cultural heritage, besides Integrated Qur’anic Education (IQE), as well as to actualize the desired goal of the Centre through linkages, collaborations, and the signing of MOUs to enhance mutual exchange of information regarding heritage studies (AIQMR) and (IQE).
The tour was also aimed at complementing the efforts of Gov. Mai Mala Buni towards improving the Tsangaya system of education in Yobe State as well as reviving the Arabic, Islamic, and Qur’anic manuscript heritage of Ngazargamu in Yobe State and beyond.
Places visited include:
1. Heritage-based institutions Bamako, Mali, the Association for the Safeguarding and Promotion of Manuscripts for the Defence of Islamic Culture (SAVAMA-DCI), and the National Archives of Mali Museum, Bamako, Mali.
2. Dakar Senegal; Islamology Department, Fundamental Institute of Black Africa, Cheikh Anta Diop University, Dakar Senegal (I’FAN-CAD, University Cheikh Anta Diop, Dakar Senegal)
3. Nouakchott, Islamic Republic of Mauritania; the Higher Institute of Islamic Studies and Research, Nouakchott.
The 10-day tour provided an opportunity for great intellectual discussions on multicultural matters of manuscripts and integrated Qur’anic education (IQE) in West and North Africa.
The three-man delegation comprises Prof. Mala Daura, VC, YSU, (Chairman), Alhaji Lawan Abba Shattima, Chairman Advisory Committee CRQS (Member), and Dr. Adam Mohammed Mustapha, Director CRQS (Secretary/Member).
The following achievements were recorded during the tour:.
1. Actualization of partnership, signing of MOU between the Centre and the 3 regional institutions in terms of the academic content of Integrated Qur’anic Education (IQE) and Arabic, Islamic and Qur’anic Manuscripts Research (AIQMR)
2. Linkages and collaborations to share experiences on the IQE and AIQMR
3. Mapping of areas in which the parties may benefit from one another within academic research spaces.
4. The Higher Institute of Islamic Studies and Research, Nouakchott, Islamic Republic of Mauritania, offered a tuition-free scholarship for twenty (20) undergraduate candidates in Qur’anic Studies and Tafseer, and two (2) slots for M.A. in Qur’anic Studies and Tafseer.
5. Promises of technical support to the Centre in terms of digitalization of manuscripts, manuscript storage, and capacity building.
The Centre was advised to work towards sustainability, consistency, and visibility by ensuring that it has a comprehensive database and an active website with frequent responses to emails, as well as good leadership and engagement of relevant people and resources to move forward.
The Centre was also encouraged to create more linkages and build relationships with domestic, national, and international research donors through presentations and designs of convincing proposals within the context of the desired objectives of the Centre, as well as conduct seminars, symposiums, workshops, and conferences to attract relevant researchers from different parts of the world.
