Iqbal Launches 'Gelegar Lentera Ramadan' and Announces IDR 500 Million in Village Support Funds
The Governor of West Nusa Tenggara (NTB), Lalu Muhamad Iqbal, launched the ‘Gelegar Lentera Ramadan 2026’ at the Tioq Tata Tunaq Alun-Alun Park in North Lombok on Wednesday, February 25, 2026. The opening ceremony featured a performance by religious singer Opick.
Iqbal stated that this year’s Ramadan event differs from previous years by emphasizing the equitable distribution of benefits to micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs).
“Last year, Ramadan activities were more centralized in one location. Now, we are spreading them across several regions,” Iqbal said in North Lombok on Wednesday afternoon, February 25, 2026.
He emphasized that economic empowerment should be distributed to various districts/cities so that local businesses can directly benefit from the economic activity during Ramadan.
“The spirit of MSME empowerment, which previously existed in the ‘Pesona Khazanah Ramadan’ and was centered in the Islamic Center Hubbul Wathan area, must be distributed to the regions so that MSMEs from other districts/cities can also participate,” he added.
The ‘Gelegar Lentera Ramadan 2026’ will be held in stages, starting from North Lombok on February 25 to March 1, 2026, then continuing to Bima City on March 2-3, 2026, then to Central Lombok on March 4-8, 2026, and concluding back in the Islamic Center Hubbul Wathan area.
The Head of the NTB Province Tourism and Creative Economy Office, Ahmad Nur Aulia, explained that the ‘Gelegar Lentera Ramadan’ is designed to encourage community economic activity through cross-sectoral collaboration. The event provides a space for religious sermons and religious entertainment for the community.
“We are partnering with Bank NTB Syariah for this event. The blessings of Ramadan must reach the families of MSME actors,” he said.
Aulia mentioned that the ‘Gelegar Lentera Ramadan’ was officially opened by Opick. The purpose of bringing in Opick is to entertain the community.
“This event is also part of the local government’s strategy in building culture-based and religious activities that have a direct impact on the local economy and the equitable distribution of economic activity throughout NTB,” he said.
The singer, whose real name is Aunur Rofiq Lil Firdaus, said he was happy to return to NTB. According to Opick, the atmosphere this time feels different from his previous visits to NTB.
“Today the weather is rainy. Hopefully, our fasting prayers will be smooth,” said Opick before performing the song Maulana on the stage of the ‘Gelegar Lentera Ramadan’ in North Lombok.
Iqbal Announces IDR 500 Million in Village Support Funds to be Disbursed Soon
Iqbal provided guidance to the ‘Desa Berdaya’ (Empowered Village) program assistants in Sigar Penjalin Village, Tanjung District, North Lombok. Iqbal requested that the village assistants provide accurate data on poor residents to the village government.
“Don’t think that village assistants can solve all the problems in the village. The point is that all the findings in the field can be coordinated with the village head,” said Iqbal while giving directions to the ‘Desa Berdaya’ assistants in the Sigar Penyalin Village office, North Lombok, on Wednesday, February 25, 2026.
Iqbal said that the task of village assistants is to collect data and transfer assets to families who are struggling to escape poverty. Iqbal added that ‘Desa Berdaya’ assistants can discuss and talk to poor residents about their needs and the assets they need.
“We will also prepare IDR 500 million per village. But this needs to be intervened per village to see what each village needs,” said Iqbal.
In addition to the NTB government, Iqbal said that regional and central governments will also directly intervene with extremely poor communities in NTB. “So we will work together to solve the problems in the village, including poverty,” he said.
Iqbal encouraged village assistants to come up with concrete solutions to the presence of luxury hotels in Sigar Penyalin Village. The community must be able to utilize local potential so that it is noticed by foreign tourists who visit Sire Beach and its surroundings.
“We hope to develop local potential. So that outsiders like the clean but simple atmosphere. So they want something different from what is in Europe or other countries,” he said.
The Head of Sigar Penyalin Village, Zawil Fadli, said that out of 106 poor villages in NTB, Sigar Penyalin is one of the most extremely poor areas. This condition makes him fully support the ‘Desa Berdaya’ program.
“The number of extremely poor residents in Sigar Penjalin Village is 100 families. So the condition of their housing, health, education, and basic needs needs to be addressed,” said Zawil.
The ‘Desa Berdaya’ program is expected to provide intensive intervention to poor residents so that their quality of life improves. Zawil emphasized that the two ‘Desa Berdaya’ program assistants in Sigar Penyalin can assist extremely poor residents in Sigar Penyalin Village with a transformative and thematic approach.
“Yes, our hope is that they can be intervened with programs such as providing them with business opportunities, so that with the capital they have, they can develop their business and meet their daily needs,” he said.