Gus Ipul Checks Finalisation of Arena and Registration Simulation for NU Congress Participants

Chairman of the Congress Committee and Secretary General of PBNU Saifullah Yusuf inspected the finalisation of preparations for the 35th Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) Congress. The crucial check was carried out directly at Bahrul Ulum Islamic Boarding School in Tambakberas, Jombang, on Tuesday (25/8).

The man affectionately known as Gus Ipul was accompanied by Congress Steering Committee Chairman Professor Mohammad Nuh and PBNU General Treasurer Agus Gudfan Arief. The group of administrators and committee members directly inspected the condition of the field in Tambakberas Village, which will serve as the opening location.

They observed the construction of the main tent and various supporting facilities, which have entered their final stages. The group then proceeded to the registration area to review the guest reception flow.

Gus Ipul, Professor Nuh, and the figure affectionately known as Gus Gudfan even personally tested the entire registration process. The three took queue numbers, underwent data verification, and tried the latest barcode-based registration system.

Gus Ipul praised the application of modern technology in facilitating participant data collection at this major event.

“Two days before the opening of the 35th Nahdlatul Ulama Congress, I, Professor Nuh, Gus Gudfan and several PBNU administrators conducted a simulation of congress participant registration. It is remarkable that this time everything has begun to adapt to today’s situation and conditions, using barcodes,” said Gus Ipul in a written statement on Wednesday (26/8/2026).

The registration system was deliberately designed to ensure that participant reception is fast, orderly, comfortable, and precise. Participants who have passed verification will be directed to locations according to their respective provinces, regencies/cities, or branches.

Gus Ipul believes that the use of this integrated database can minimise the potential for mass queue build-up at the venue.

“God willing, if everyone is disciplined and orderly, there will be no long queues. Everything will be comfortable and precise because it matches the data,” he said.

The committee has also established the Permanent Participant List (DPT) along with the names of administrators entitled to attend officially. The use of this digital registration system serves a dual function of strictly screening participants who meet the requirements.

Gus Ipul emphasised that this anticipatory measure is aimed at maintaining order and the smooth running of the organisation’s highest deliberative agenda.

“The data is already available, the DPT has been established, and the names of administrators who are participants are all clearly listed. In this way, it is hoped that there will be no infiltrating participants and no substitute participants. Everyone is a participant who truly meets the requirements,” he said.

Thanks to this integrated system, all stages of service from registration to accommodation placement can be properly measured. Gus Ipul greatly appreciated the optimal performance of the congress committee secretariat team and the extended family of Bahrul Ulum Islamic Boarding School.

The preparation period of approximately 50 days was deemed successfully maximised to complete all organisational needs.

“Thank you to the Congress Committee Secretariat team, thank you to the Bahrul Ulum Islamic Boarding School Committee who worked carefully, quickly, and hard so that the 50 days could be utilised as well as possible,” he said.

Now, various essential congress needs, from accommodation and meeting venues to other supporting facilities, are ready for use. All participants are expected to focus their full attention on substantive agendas for the future of the organisation.

Gus Ipul hopes that this deliberative forum will produce various strategic formulations and decisions that are relevant.

“We hope that all congress participants can truly focus and contribute so that the results of the 35th Congress, the first congress in NU’s second century, can produce decisions that make our organisation more advanced, more relevant, and more grounded,” he said.

The congress decisions are also expected to strengthen organisational governance and improve protection for members. The presence of knowledge and the views of religious scholars is assured to continue serving as guidance within society.

“The organisation is well-managed, its members are served, and its members are given defence and affirmation. At the same time, the knowledge of the ulama will continue to guide the times and build civilisation,” he explained.

This event is acknowledged to have very special meaning as it is the first NU congress in the second century of the organisation. Holding it in Jombang also brings a strong collective memory of the birthplace of the founders of the largest Islamic organisation.

“This is the beginning of the second century of Nahdlatul Ulama. The congress returns to the embrace of the muassis, returns to the embrace of the founders of Nahdlatul Ulama,” said Gus Ipul.

He also offered sincere prayers that the series of events at this historic location would run successfully and bring blessings.

“From Bahrul Ulum Islamic Boarding School, Tambakberas, Jombang, may this be a joyful congress, full of blessings, and end with alhamdulillah because everything runs smoothly,” concluded Gus Ipul.