Reported by Simon Daniel Yusuph l Journalist at Weng Global
Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has awarded N20 million to 19-year-old Maryam Ibrahim Dan’Azumi of Gombe State following her victory at the 46th King Abdulaziz International Qur’anic Competition in Makkah, Saudi Arabia.
Tinubu presented the cash award to Maryam on Tuesday, September 15, 2026, at the Presidential Villa in Abuja after the young Qur’anic scholar was formally presented to her by Gombe State Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya.
Maryam was accompanied by her father, Ibrahim Dan’Azumi, members of the Gombe State delegation and others involved in her educational and Qur’anic development.
The recognition comes less than a month after Maryam emerged as a winner at the prestigious international competition, where she represented Nigeria among contestants from countries around the world.
Tinubu Honours Maryam in Abuja
During the presentation in Abuja, Oluremi Tinubu commended Maryam for her achievement and described the accomplishment as a source of pride for Nigeria.
According to reports by the News Agency of Nigeria, published by several Nigerian media organisations, the First Lady also praised Maryam’s parents for supporting her education and nurturing her Qur’anic talent.
Tinubu described the young scholar as an inspiration to the girl child and said her achievement demonstrated the importance of discipline, commitment and support in helping young Nigerians develop their abilities.
The First Lady also indicated her willingness to support Maryam’s pursuit of further education, including postgraduate studies, according to P.M. News.
The N20 million award is separate from the prize Maryam received for her performance at the international Qur’anic competition in Saudi Arabia.
Maryam’s International Victory
Maryam Ibrahim Dan’Azumi made international headlines in August after winning the women’s second category at the 46th King Abdulaziz International Competition for Memorisation, Recitation and Interpretation of the Holy Qur’an in Makkah.
The competition was held from August 6 to August 19, 2026, at the Grand Mosque in Makkah.
According to the State House, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu congratulated Maryam after her victory and said she had defeated competitors from 132 other countries.
The President said Maryam earned a prize of 300,000 Saudi Riyals, which Nigerian government and media reports valued at approximately N120 million.
Muslim News Nigeria reported that the competition attracted 334 contestants from 133 countries, with participants competing across five categories. A total of 50 contestants emerged as winners across the different categories.
Maryam’s victory came in the women’s second category, which required participants to demonstrate mastery of the entire Qur’an alongside recitation, Tajweed and interpretation of Qur’anic vocabulary.
A Landmark Moment for Female Contestants
Maryam’s victory was particularly significant because the 2026 edition marked the first time female contestants were officially included in the history of the King Abdulaziz International Qur’anic Competition.
The competition dates back to 1979 and has traditionally provided an international platform for Qur’anic memorisation, recitation and scholarship.
Muslim News Nigeria reported that the 46th edition brought together 334 contestants from 133 countries, including 202 male and 132 female participants.
The inclusion of women therefore represented a major development in the history of the competition, while Maryam’s victory placed a Nigerian contestant at the centre of that historic edition.
Her performance also brought international attention to Gombe State and the Qur’anic educational institutions where she received her training.
Gombe State Celebrates Maryam
Maryam is a student of Abubakar Siddiq Community Islamic School for Qur’anic Memorisation in Gombe.
Her success has attracted recognition from the Gombe State Government, the Federal Government and other Nigerians since her return from Saudi Arabia.
Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya was among those who publicly recognised her achievement and later led a delegation to present her to the First Lady in Abuja.
The presentation at the Presidential Villa provided an opportunity for the Gombe State Government to highlight the achievement at the national level.
Maryam’s father, Ibrahim Dan’Azumi, also accompanied her during the meeting with the First Lady.
The recognition has placed greater public attention on the role played by her family, teachers and mentors in preparing her for international competition.
President Tinubu Earlier Congratulated Maryam
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had earlier congratulated Maryam following her success in Makkah.
In a statement issued on August 21 by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the President commended Maryam for her performance and mastery of the Qur’an.
The State House said the President described her achievement as a source of national pride and praised her parents, teachers and mentors for their contributions to her development.
President Tinubu also highlighted the achievement of Maryam’s elder sister, Hajara Ibrahim Dan’Azumi, who won first place in a similar international Qur’anic competition in Jordan in 2024.
The two sisters’ achievements have attracted attention because of their success at major international Qur’anic competitions.
The Saudi Arabian Prize
Maryam’s N20 million award from the First Lady should not be confused with the prize she received from the Saudi Arabian competition.
The State House said Maryam received 300,000 Saudi Riyals for her performance in the international competition.
Nigerian media reports placed the value of the Saudi prize at approximately N120 million, although the naira equivalent can vary depending on exchange-rate movements.
Her Saudi Arabian prize therefore represents the competition’s official award, while the N20 million presented by Oluremi Tinubu is a separate recognition from Nigeria’s First Lady.
This distinction is important in reporting the total value of the financial recognition associated with Maryam’s achievement.
Why Maryam’s Achievement Matters
Maryam’s success demonstrates the international opportunities that can emerge from specialised education and sustained training.
Her journey also highlights the role of families, teachers and mentors in developing young Nigerians who compete on international platforms.
For Gombe State, the achievement provides national visibility for the state’s Qur’anic education sector and its young students.
At the national level, Maryam’s victory has been presented by government officials as an example of what young Nigerians can accomplish through discipline, education and mentorship.
Her success also coincided with a historic change in the King Abdulaziz competition, where female participants were admitted to the event for the first time.
The combination of Nigeria’s representation, the historic inclusion of women and Maryam’s first-place finish has consequently given the achievement significance beyond the financial prize attached to it.
Recognition for the Girl Child
Oluremi Tinubu’s decision to honour Maryam also places the achievement within a wider conversation about supporting Nigerian girls and young women who excel in education and other specialised fields.
During the Abuja presentation, the First Lady praised Maryam as an inspiration to the girl child and acknowledged the contribution of her parents to her development.
Such recognition can draw attention to the importance of creating opportunities for young people to develop their talents regardless of the educational field they pursue.
Maryam’s achievement has already demonstrated that Nigerian youths can compete successfully at international events when they receive the necessary preparation and support.
What Happens Next
The next stage of Maryam’s journey is expected to focus on her continued education and Qur’anic scholarship.
The First Lady has indicated a willingness to support her further educational ambitions, including postgraduate studies, according to P.M. News.
Maryam’s achievement is also likely to continue receiving recognition from institutions and organisations in Nigeria following her historic performance in Makkah.
For now, the N20 million award from Oluremi Tinubu represents another major recognition for the young Gombe scholar after her international victory and the earlier congratulatory message from President Tinubu.
Her story has brought together three levels of recognition — international recognition through the King Abdulaziz competition, national recognition from the President and First Lady, and state-level recognition from the Gombe State Government.
The achievement has also placed Maryam Dan’Azumi among a growing number of young Nigerians whose accomplishments have attracted attention beyond the country’s borders.
Weng Global – Stories beyond borders
Sources
State House, Abuja — President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s official statement congratulating Maryam Ibrahim Dan’Azumi on winning the King Abdulaziz International Qur’anic Competition, published August 21, 2026.
News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) — Report on First Lady Oluremi Tinubu awarding N20 million to Maryam Dan’Azumi in Abuja, published September 15, 2026.
P.M. News — Report on Oluremi Tinubu’s N20 million award to Maryam and her indication of support for the young scholar’s further education, published September 15, 2026.
Nigerian Tribune — Report on Governor Inuwa Yahaya presenting Maryam Dan’Azumi to First Lady Oluremi Tinubu at the Presidential Villa, published September 15, 2026.
Muslim News Nigeria — Report on the 46th King Abdulaziz International Qur’an Competition, including the number of participating countries, contestants, competition categories and Maryam’s victory, published August 20, 2026.
Punch — Report on President Tinubu’s congratulatory message following Maryam Dan’Azumi’s victory in Saudi Arabia, published August 21, 2026.
