First Lady Gives N20m to Gombe Qur’anic Champion Maryam Dan’Azumi

First Lady Gives N20m to Gombe Qur’anic Champion Maryam Dan’Azumi

Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has awarded ₦20 million to 19-year-old Maryam Ibrahim Dan’Azumi of Gombe State, winner of the 46th King Abdulaziz International Qur’anic Competition in Makkah, Saudi Arabia.

The First Lady presented the support on Tuesday in Abuja when Gombe State Governor, Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, led a delegation to formally present Maryam to her at the Presidential Villa.

Maryam, a student of Abubakar Siddiq Community Islamic School for Qur’anic Memorisation in Gombe, emerged winner in the category covering memorisation of the entire Holy Qur’an, recitation, Tajweed and interpretation of 60 Hizb with Tafsir.

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

She commended Maryam’s parents for their role in her upbringing and education, as well as her teachers and the Gombe State Musabaqa Committee for their support in nurturing her talent.

The First Lady also commended Gombe State’s Tsangaya integrated school system and Almajiri education programme, describing them as initiatives that could serve as models for other parts of the country.

She stressed the importance of addressing the challenges facing Almajiri and out-of-school children, noting that the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope initiatives place emphasis on women, the girl-child and vulnerable Nigerians.

Maryam’s victory in Saudi Arabia was particularly significant as the 46th edition of the competition marked the first time female contestants participated in its 46-year history. She competed against participants from 132 other countries.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had earlier congratulated Maryam, describing her mastery of the Qur’an as a source of national pride. Her victory also earned her a prize of 300,000 Saudi Riyals, equivalent to about ₦120 million, from the international competition.

The First Lady’s ₦20 million education support adds to the recognition Maryam has received following her historic achievement and is intended to support her continued education.

First Lady Gives N20m to Gombe Qur’anic Champion Maryam Dan’Azumi