A daughter of Gombe State, Maryam Ibrahim Dan’azumi, has emerged overall winner of the 46th King Abdulaziz International Qur’anic Competition held in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Maryam, a student of Abubakar Siddiq Community Islamic School for Qur’anic Memorisation in Herwagana Quarters, Gombe, represented Nigeria at the prestigious international competition, where she competed in the 60 Hizb category involving Qur’anic memorisation, recitation, Tajweed and Tafsir.
She emerged first overall among contestants from several countries, recording an outstanding performance that brought international recognition to both Gombe State and Nigeria.
Her achievement is particularly significant as the 46th edition marked the first participation of female contestants in the long-running competition.
Maryam was among four Nigerians who represented the country at the competition. The other representatives were Hafsa Muhammad Sada from Kano State, Abdullahi Asil from Zamfara State and Abdulmalik Muhammad Inuwa from Taraba State.
According to the information released on the achievement, Maryam also emerged first in the women’s Tafsir category for 60 Hizb, earning a prize of 300,000 Saudi Riyals, reportedly equivalent to about N120 million.
Her victory followed a remarkable progression from the local level to the international stage. She had earlier emerged first at the Gombe Local Government Area level, before winning at the Gombe State and national levels to earn the opportunity to represent Nigeria in Makkah, Saudi Arabia.
Reacting to the achievement, Gombe State Governor, Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, CON, expressed pride over Maryam’s performance, describing it as a major accomplishment for the state and Nigeria.
Governor Yahaya congratulated Maryam, her family, teachers and the wider Gombe Muslim community, saying her success demonstrated the value of discipline, commitment and dedication to learning.
“I am deeply proud of our daughter’s exceptional achievement on the global stage. Maryam’s triumph exemplifies the excellence and rich educational heritage of Gombe State,” the Governor said.
He added that the achievement would inspire young people, particularly girls, to pursue excellence and distinguish themselves in their chosen fields.
The Governor also reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to supporting the educational development of young people, including Qur’anic and religious studies, which he said play an important role in nurturing discipline, character and responsible citizenship.
“Gombe is known for excellence, and we shall continue to identify with those who promote the good image of Gombe to the world. Maryam is one of such people, and we are proud to celebrate her,” he said.
Governor Yahaya further acknowledged the contribution of Abubakar Siddiq Community Islamic School for Qur’anic Memorisation to Maryam’s development.
Interestingly, the Governor was the pioneer Chairman of the school’s Board before assuming office as Governor of Gombe State. He later relinquished the position to Architect Yunusa Yakubu.
Governor Yahaya said he looked forward to receiving and personally honouring Maryam upon her return to Nigeria, noting that recognising outstanding young people could encourage them to sustain their pursuit of excellence and motivate others to follow their example.
He also called on parents, teachers, religious institutions and other stakeholders to continue identifying and nurturing young talents by providing them with the support and opportunities needed to develop their abilities.
Maryam’s achievement has further placed Gombe State and Nigeria on the international map of Qur’anic scholarship, while highlighting the growing participation and accomplishments of young Nigerian women in international Qur’anic competitions.
