Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has honoured 19-year-old Maryam Ibrahim Dan’azumi, winner of the 46th King Abdulaziz International Qur’anic Competition in Saudi Arabia, with N20 million.

Maryam, a student of Abubakar Siddiq Community Islamic School for Qur’anic Memorization, Gombe, was presented to the First Lady at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, on Tuesday by Gombe State Governor, Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya.

She emerged overall winner of the prestigious international competition after competing against hundreds of contestants from several countries in the category for memorisation of the entire Holy Qur’an, recitation, Tajweed and interpretation.

Her victory was particularly significant as it came in the maiden year female contestants were admitted into the 46-year-old competition.

Receiving Maryam, her parents, teachers and members of the Gombe delegation, Senator Tinubu described the young Qur’anic scholar as a source of pride to Nigerian women and the girl-child.

“Maryam has brought joy to us. You have made us proud by conquering the world, especially in this area of faith and divine knowledge,” she said.

The First Lady commended Maryam’s parents and teachers for their roles in her development, while also acknowledging the support of the Gombe State Musabaqa Committee and Governor Yahaya.

She urged the young champion to remain humble, uphold her values and serve as a role model to other young Nigerians.

Earlier, Governor Yahaya said he brought Maryam to the Presidential Villa to demonstrate that her achievement was not only a source of pride to Gombe State but to Nigeria as a whole.

“We wanted to show how grateful we are and to demonstrate that this pride is not for Gombe alone, but for the entire nation. We also want this achievement to inspire others,” he said.

The governor disclosed that Maryam’s elder sister, Hajara, had also represented Nigeria at an international Qur’anic competition in Jordan and emerged overall winner.

The Executive Secretary of the National Commission for Almajiri and Out-of-School Children Education, Dr Mohammed Sani Idris, commended Gombe State for its interventions in education, particularly those targeting Almajiri and out-of-school children.

He said Maryam’s achievement demonstrated that Qur’anic education could coexist with formal Western education, urging other states to adopt similar approaches to education and skills development.

Prof. Tahir Inuwa, Director of Administration at Abubakar Siddiq Community Islamic School, said Maryam’s success followed victories at the local government, state and national levels before she represented Nigeria in Saudi Arabia.

The event was attended by Maryam’s parents, teachers, members of the Gombe State government and other dignitaries.