The Chairman of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), Ismail Yusuf, has called for strategic investments and digital transformation to strengthen Hajj fund management, reduce pilgrimage costs and safeguard financial benefits for future generations of pilgrims. Mr Yusuf made the call while serving as a prominent international panellist at the 8th International Hajj Fund Forum (IHFF) 2026, held on Thursday at the Jakarta International Convention Centre in Indonesia.
The global forum, hosted by Indonesia’s Hajj Financial Management Agency (Badan Pengelola Keuangan Haji – BPKH), brought together policymakers, Sharia finance experts and institutional leaders to explore sustainable approaches to managing Hajj funds amid rising economic uncertainties. The forum, held under the theme “Sustainable Hajj Fund Management Through Strategic Synergy and Digital Transformation,” examined the growing macroeconomic challenges affecting pilgrimage operations, rising costs and the need to preserve the long-term financial benefits of Hajj funds.
According to a statement issued on Thursday by NAHCON’s Head of Information and Publications, Shafii Mohammed, Mr Yusuf shared Nigeria’s experience and perspectives during a high-level panel discussion alongside BPKH Executive Board Chief Fadlul Imansyah and other international dignitaries. He emphasised the importance of coordination among relevant agencies, stronger institutional partnerships, and robust digital systems to protect Hajj operations from global financial volatility.
“The future of Hajj administration depends on our collective ability to innovate. Managing Hajj funds efficiently is no longer just about financing the immediate next pilgrimage; it is about protecting wealth and ensuring sustainable benefits for future generations of pilgrims.
By leaning into technological transformations and cementing strategic ties with key global partners like Indonesia, NAHCON is positioning Nigeria at the forefront of transparent and economically sound Hajj operations in line with the interests of current and future generations of pilgrims,” Mr Yusuf said.