First Lady Oluremi Tinubu has rewarded Maryam Ibrahim Dan’Azumi, winner of an international Qur’anic competition in Saudi Arabia, with N20m to support her education.
The cash gift was presented to Maryam on Tuesday at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, when Gombe State Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya led a delegation to introduce the Qur’anic scholar to the First Lady.
Yahaya disclosed the gesture in a Facebook post, expressing appreciation to Tinubu for the reception and financial support for Maryam’s education.
Maryam, a student of Abubakar Siddiq Community School for Qur’anic Memorisation, Gombe, emerged the overall winner of the second category of the 46th King Abdulaziz International Qur’an Recitation Competition held in Makkah, Saudi Arabia.
She scored 97.70 marks in the category covering memorisation of the entire Qur’an, recitation, Tajweed and interpretation.
Her victory marked the first time female contestants were admitted into the 46-year-old international competition.
Maryam reportedly received a prize of N120m from the Saudi competition following her victory.
According to a statement by the Director-General, Press Affairs, Government House, Gombe, Ismaila Uba Misilli, the First Lady described Maryam’s achievement as a source of pride for 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,” Tinubu said.
Maryam had previously won the female category of the 40th National Qur’anic Recitation Competition in Maiduguri, Borno State.
The final-year Physics Education student of Gombe State University also comes from a family with a record of success in international Qur’anic competitions.
Her elder sister, Hajara Ibrahim Dan-Azumi, won the 18th Hashemite Jordan International Qur’anic Competition for Females in Jordan in 2024.
Yahaya said Maryam’s latest achievement had brought honour to both Gombe State and Nigeria.
The governor was accompanied to the Presidential Villa by Maryam’s parents, teachers and other members of the state delegation.
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