By Aliyu Bala Gerengi, Gombe
Gombe State Governor, Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya has presented 19-year-old Maryam Ibrahim Dan’azumi, winner of the 46th King Abdulaziz International Qur’anic Competition in Saudi Arabia, to Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
Maryam, a student of Abubakar Siddiq Community Islamic School for Qur’anic Memorization, Gombe, emerged overall winner of the prestigious international competition after competing against hundreds of contestants from several countries.
She represented Nigeria in the category for memorisation of the entire Holy Qur’an, recitation, Tajweed and interpretation, covering 60 Hizb with Tafsir.
Her victory is particularly significant as it came in the first year female contestants were admitted into the 46-year-old competition, making her achievement a landmark for Nigeria and the girl-child.
Receiving Maryam, 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.
The First Lady commended Maryam’s parents for her upbringing, her teachers for their mentorship and the Gombe State Musabaqa Committee for its support.
She also praised Governor Inuwa Yahaya and the Gombe State First Lady, Dr. Asma’u Inuwa Yahaya, for what she described as purposeful leadership focused on education, gender inclusion and the empowerment of vulnerable groups.
Senator Tinubu specifically commended Gombe State’s Tsangaya Integrated School System and Almajiri education programme, describing them as models that could be replicated across the country.
She stressed the need to address the challenges of Almajiri and out-of-school children, noting that the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope initiative was also prioritising women, the girl-child and vulnerable Nigerians.
As part of the honour, the First Lady presented Maryam with N20 million to support her education, alongside other gifts.
Earlier, Governor Inuwa Yahaya said he brought Maryam to the Presidential Villa to demonstrate that her achievement was not only a source of pride to Gombe State but to the entire country.
He said Maryam had “gone, seen and conquered” on behalf of Nigeria, adding that her achievement should inspire other young Nigerians to pursue excellence.
The Governor also disclosed that Maryam’s elder sister, Hajara, had previously represented Nigeria at an international Qur’anic competition in Jordan and emerged overall winner.
He described the achievements of the two sisters as a blessing to Gombe State and Nigeria.
Governor Inuwa expressed appreciation to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for identifying Maryam’s achievement through a presidential statement, describing it as evidence of the President’s commitment to celebrating excellence among young Nigerians.
He further reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to empowering women and creating opportunities for them to realise their full potential, noting the increasing appointment of women to strategic positions in the state.
Also speaking, the Executive Secretary of the National Commission for Almajiri and Out-of-School Children Education, Dr. Mohammed Sani Idris, commended Gombe State for its commitment to education, particularly its interventions targeting Almajiri and out-of-school children.
Dr. Idris urged other state governors to emulate Governor Inuwa Yahaya’s approach, saying the adoption of similar interventions across the 36 states would significantly reduce the challenge of Almajiri and out-of-school children.
He described Maryam’s achievement as a powerful response to the misconception that Qur’anic education is incompatible with Western education.
The Director of Administration of Abubakar Siddiq Community Islamic School, Prof. Tahir Inuwa, said Maryam’s success was the product of sustained excellence, explaining that she progressed from the local government and state competitions to the national level before representing Nigeria internationally.
He commended Governor Inuwa Yahaya for his continued support to the school, the Musabaqa Committee and education generally.
The delegation to the Presidential Villa included the Gombe State First Lady, Dr. Asma’u Inuwa Yahaya; Maryam’s father, Alhaji Ibrahim Dan’azumi; Dr. Zainab Isiyaku Gwamna; former House of Representatives member, Hon. Aishatu Jibril Dukku; Presidential Adviser, Dr. Aliyu Modibbo Umar; Federal Permanent Secretaries, Dr. Ishiyaku Mohammed and Dr. Usman Kalba; Commissioner for Education, Associate Professor Aishatu Umar Maigari; Commissioner for Women Affairs, Dr. Bertha Danja; and Special Adviser to the Governor on Tsangaya Education, Sayyada Amina Sheikh Dahiru Bauchi.
Others were Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Architect Yunusa Yakubu; Proprietor, Quantity Surveyor Anas Adamu; Director of School Administration, Prof. Tahir Inuwa; and Chairman of the Gombe State Musabaqa Committee, Sheikh Imam Mohammed Adam Ardo.
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