At least 50 Imams and Islamic scholars have been sponsored by Kano state government for training on guidance and preaching techniques in Saudi Arabia, Governor Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, has disclosed.
He made the disclosure when members of the state Izalatul Bid Wa Ikamatus Sunnah, an Islamic non-governmental organization paid him a courtesy call on Tuesday, adding that the sponsorship would continue gradually as the economy of the state improves.
The training, according to the governor, would expose them to preaching techniques and update their knowledge of religious and secular issues in the light of rapid globalization.
Stressing that the importance of the training to the propagation of Islam cannot be over emphasized, he lamented that some religious scholars, instead of guiding their followers to do right, they distance them from the right path because of lack of preaching techniques.
Governor Ganduje said his administration recently introduced monthly allowances for Imams and their supporting personnel, explaining that each Imam would get a monthly stipend of N20, 000, their deputies, N15, 000 each while every Mu’azzin will take home N10, 000.
The governor appealed to members of the Izala group to educate Muslims on right of passage during Friday Congregational Prayer, noting that unnecessary blocking of roads during the prayers is against Islamic precepts.
He urged the religious leaders to continue supporting and praying for President Muhammad Buhari to succeed, adding that the state government is ready to partner with any organization for the progress of the state and Nigeria at large.
Earlier, the state chairman of the group, Sheik Sani Sharif Umar said they were at Government House to introduce newly elected members of the state branch, assuring that they would support the government to achieve its goals.