Cyril Mbah, Abuja
Vice President Kashim Shettima is expected to declare open the 10th edition of the Annual Hajj Lecture organised by the Independent Hajj Reporters (IHR) on August 20, 2026.
The VP is to serve as the Special Guest of Honour at the event.
In a statement signed by the National Coordinator, Ibrahim Muhammad, the IHR said this year’s lecture is themed “Service to the Pilgrims”, with the topic: “Exploring Business Opportunities within the Hajj and Umrah Ecosystem.”
The faith-based civil society organisation said the event will promote awareness and highlight innovations within the Hajj and Umrah industry in Nigeria.
According to IHR, the lecture will take place at the auditorium of the National Mosque, Abuja, and will commence at 10 am
The Saudi Ambassador to Nigeria, Yousef bin Mohammed Albalawi, will attend as Guest of Honour, while the Minister of State for the FCT, Dr Mahmoud Mariya Bunkure, will serve as Chief Host.
The event will be chaired by the Chairman/CEO of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), Ambassador Ismail Abba Yusuf.
A major highlight of the event will be the presentation of awards to outstanding Hajj administrators and individuals who distinguished themselves in service to Nigerian pilgrims during the 2026 Hajj.
State governors who provided support for the 2026 Hajj will also be recognised for their contributions to the success of the exercise.
The guest lecturer will be the Managing Director of Quantum Microfinance Bank Ltd., Aliyu Buhari Ali, who previously served as Group Head, SMEs and Financial Inclusion at Jaiz Bank, and as Government Affairs Manager at Sterling Financial Holdings Company.
IHR said the choice of this year’s topic reflects the need to identify economic opportunities within the pilgrimage value chain and to improve service delivery to pilgrims ahead of future Hajj operations.
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