The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has ended its one-week study trip to Indonesia as the closing ceremony was held in the office of Bank Muamalat Indonesia recently.

The Commission had chosen Indonesia for the case study due to the similarities the two countries share in the variable of the Hajj industry.

For instance, Indonesia has the largest number of pilgrims worldwide, and Nigeria has the largest number in Africa. 

The larger number of Hajj goers in the two countries are from rural areas. Whereas the Indonesians seem better informed and are benefiting from the country’s BPKH, Nigeria’s Hajj Savings Scheme (HSS) is facing challenges. In contrast, the rural populace seems still less aware of the benefits of the scheme.

Under the sponsorship of the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) since 2019, a team of NAHCON staff embarked on a capacity-building visit to Badan Pengolola Keuangan Haji (BPKH) headquarters otherwise known as Indonesian (Sovereign) Hajj Fund Management Agency to see how best to improve on HSS, matters of general Hajj operations and Islamic Finance. Staff received insight into how BPKH managed to record the successes it did within a short time.

The lessons centered around the establishment of BPKH as a body backed by presidential authorization to manage the Hajj fund in Indonesia. Consequently, while BPKH solely manages Hajj funds and investment, the Indonesian Ministry of Religious Affairs centralizes its operations on organizing pilgrims. The pilgrims are spread along provinces under which they registered for the Hajj.

The team also gained insight into the risk management of Hajj funds in BPKH, kinds of investment, human resource management, smart Hajj applications, the role of digital registration in easing and increasing hajj registration among others. The team was simultaneously taken around to have an overview of the country’s Hajj enlightenment process. They were also taken around the pilgrims’ hostel in Jakarta.

Alhaji Nura Hassan Yakassai, NAHCON’s Commissioner of Policy, Personnel Management and Finance (PPMF) as well as the leader of the delegation observed in his closing remarks that the trip was truly educative.

He described the activities of the week as learning while having fun through the host’s warm reception, educative lectures, generous nourishment, visitations to places of interest, and the privilege of participating in the Indonesian Sharia Economic Festival week.

During the week, NAHCON Chairman, Alhaji Zikrullah Kunle Hassan, signed a Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation with Honorable Minister of State on Owned Enterprises and Chairman of Masyarakat Ekonmi Syariah, Mr. Erick Thohir.

Alhaji Yakassai expressed gratitude for this and all other kind gestures extended to the team.

In an emotional laden speech, Dr KM. Mursudi Syuhud, Chairman and Chief Imam of the Indonesian Ulama, prayed that the two organizations will grow bigger together as they join heads to work together. He expressed confidence that there is a success when people of faith gather with love seeking for knowledge, guidance, livelihood, and collaboration.

The BPKH Chairman, Mr. Anggito Abimanyu encouraged the NAHCON delegation to remain focused and to utilize what they have learnt. Recalling that there was a time when Indonesia, like Nigeria, had to travel to Malaysia to understudy the Tabung Hajji. Now five years later, he said they have achieved a lot from what they started.

The host, Mr Abimanyu offered gift to Alhaaji Nura Yakassai as well as other members of the delegation. Present in Indonesia apart from NAHCON staff and board member were Hon. Abubakar HassanNalaraba, Chairman House Committee on Pilgrimage; from the state boards were Alhaji Idris Almakura, Execitive Secretary (ES) Nasarawa state; Barr. Awwal Abdullahi ES Plateau State, and Alhaji Abba Danbatta, ES, Kano state.