First Lady Remi Tinubu gifts N20m to Qur’anic competition winner

First Lady Mrs. Oluremi Tinubu has donated N20m to Maryam Ibrahim Dan’Azumi, the Nigerian student who won a category at the King Abdul Aziz International Qur’an Competition held in Saudi Arabia recently.

The sum was handed over to Maryam in the Presidential Villa, Abuja yesterday during an introduction of the Qur’anic scholar to the First Lady by a delegation led by Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya of Gombe State.

Yahaya disclosed the donation in a Facebook post, expressing appreciation to Oluremi Tinubu for the “warm reception and N20m support towards Maryam’s education.”

Maryam, a student of Abubakar Siddiq Community School for Qur’anic Memorisation in 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 competed in the category involving memorisation of the entire Holy Qur’an, recitation, Tajweed and interpretation, scoring 97.70 marks.

Her victory was recorded in the first edition of the 46-year-old international competition to admit female contestants.

The Saudi competition reportedly awarded Maryam a prize of N120 million following her victory.

Receiving the student, the First Lady described her achievement 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,” Oluremi Tinubu said.

A statement signed by the Director-General, Press Affairs, Government House, Gombe, Ismaila Uba Misilli, said the First Lady commended Maryam’s accomplishment and her contribution to Nigeria’s image.

Maryam had previously won the female category of the 40th National Qur’anic Recitation Competition held in Maiduguri, Borno State.

The final-year Physics Education student of Gombe State University comes from a family with a strong record in 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.

Governor Yahaya said Maryam’s latest accomplishment had brought honour to both Gombe State and Nigeria.

He was accompanied to the Presidential Villa by Maryam’s parents, teachers and other members of the Gombe State delegation.

The First Lady’s N20 million support is expected to assist Maryam with her education as she continues her academic and Qur’anic studies.