The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), on Wednesday, participated in the 50th Grand Hajj Symposium which took place in Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, as part of ongoing preparations for the 2026 Hajj exercise.
In a statement by Sani Shafi’i Mohammed, the international symposium, organized by the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah in collaboration with the Council of Senior Scholars, brought together Hajj administrators, Islamic scholars, researchers and government officials from across the Muslim world to discuss contemporary issues and future developments in Hajj management and pilgrim services.
A delegation led by NAHCON’s Board Member representing Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI), Professor Musa Inuwa Fodio, alongside the Deputy Coordinator, Makkah, Mallam Ibrahim Idris Mahmud, and other officials, represented Nigeria at the one-day event.
Speaking during the opening session, the Saudi Minister of Hajj and Umrah, Dr. Tawfiq Al-Rabiah, highlighted the Kingdom’s commitment to improving services for pilgrims through innovation, digital transformation and the deployment of modern technologies, including artificial intelligence.
The Minister explained that Saudi Arabia continues to modernize Hajj operations in line with the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030 and the Guests of Allah Service Programme to ensure a safer, more efficient and spiritually fulfilling pilgrimage experience for pilgrims from around the world.
Discussions at the symposium covered several thematic areas including Pilgrims’ Awareness and Guidance; Sustainability; Transportation and crowd management; Health Regulations; Operational efficiency and strategic planning for future Hajj exercises in line with global trends in technology, Artificial Intelligence and Internet of Things.
The event celebrated five decades of scholarly and institutional contributions toward enhancing Hajj services and enriching pilgrims’ experiences globally.
NAHCON’s participation at the symposium is geared towards adopting global best practices in organization and provision of efficient services for Nigerian pilgrims during the 2026 Hajj operations.