NAHCON Chair Advocates Digital Transformation for Sustainable Hajj Fund Management
By Abdulrazaq Auwal
The Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), Ambassador Ismail Abba Yusuf, has called for stronger international partnerships and digital transformation to ensure sustainable management of Hajj funds.
Amb. Yusuf made the call while participating as an international panelist at the 8th International Hajj Fund Forum (IHFF) 2026, hosted by Indonesia’s Hajj Financial Management Agency (BPKH) at the Jakarta International Convention Center.
The forum, themed “Sustainable Hajj Fund Management Through Strategic Synergy and Digital Transformation,” brought together policymakers, Islamic finance experts and institutional leaders to examine rising pilgrimage costs, global economic uncertainties and strategies for preserving Hajj funds for future generations.
Speaking alongside BPKH Executive Board Chief Fadlul Imansyah and other international dignitaries, the NAHCON chairman stressed the importance of inter-agency cooperation and technology in strengthening financial management and protecting pilgrimage operations from economic volatility.
He said effective Hajj fund management must go beyond financing annual pilgrimages to include wealth preservation and sustainable investments that benefit future pilgrims.
NAHCON Chair Advocates Digital Transformation for Sustainable Hajj Fund Management
According to him, Nigeria is pursuing stronger international partnerships and technological innovations to promote transparency, financial efficiency and long-term sustainability in Hajj administration.
Yusuf also advocated investment in profitable infrastructure within the Hajj value chain, particularly hospitality and logistics, saying such investments could help reduce accommodation costs while generating sustainable returns for Hajj funds.
The forum featured addresses by Indonesia’s Minister of Hajj and Umrah, K.H. Mochamad Irfan Yusuf, and Vice Minister of Finance, Juda Agung.
Participants discussed ways Muslim-majority countries could strengthen financial cooperation and deploy emerging technologies to improve Hajj fund management amid rising operational costs and changing global economic conditions.
NAHCON’s participation, according to the commission, reflects Nigeria’s efforts to develop sustainable, technology-driven financial frameworks that protect pilgrims’ interests and strengthen the economic foundation of Hajj operations.
The engagement also provides an opportunity for Nigeria to deepen cooperation with Indonesia and other international stakeholders on investment strategies and modern approaches to pilgrimage financing.
