Maryam Ibrahim Dan'azumi, a teenage girl from Gombe State, has won first place in two categories at the 46th King Abdulaziz International Competition for Memorising, Reciting and Interpreting the Glorious Qur'an, held in Makkah, Saudi Arabia. She received a prize worth 300,000 Saudi Riyals, approximately ₦120 million.
Maryam topped both the Women's 60 Hizb and Tafsir categories at the competition, which concluded in Makkah under the patronage of Saudi Arabia's King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud. The Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Dawah and Guidance organised the event, which attracted 334 male and female contestants from 133 countries — the highest number of participants in the competition's history.
Family Record of Qur'anic Excellence
Maryam's win adds to a remarkable family record. Her elder sister, Hajara Ibrahim Dan'azumi, won the overall title at the 18th Hashemite Jordan International Qur'anic Competition for Females in Jordan in 2024. Following that victory, Prof. Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami gifted Hajara a car and paid her university scholarship fees in full.
The achievement was announced on August 20, 2026, by the Isa Pantami Foundation, signed on behalf of Prof. Pantami, who also shared the news via his official X account. In his statement, Prof. Pantami congratulated Maryam, her teachers, parents, and colleagues, describing the win as "a wonderful achievement" and a reflection of the talent among young Nigerians.
Official Recognition and Support
"Seeing two sisters excel in international Qur'an competitions is particularly heartwarming. Maryam's achievement is a source of pride to her family and a beautiful reflection of the talent and potential among the young people of Gombe State in particular, and Nigeria in general," the statement read.
The Saudi government, under King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, awarded Maryam the special prize of 300,000 Saudi Riyals. Prof. Pantami's foundation expressed gratitude to the Kingdom for the recognition extended to the Nigerian winner.
The foundation also noted that Prof. Pantami has consistently supported young Nigerians in education, saying he "believes that when young people are given the right support and encouragement, they can achieve great things and bring honour to their families, communities, and country."
Broader Context of Muslim Life in Nigeria
In a previous report, the chief imam of Imo state, Sheikh Suleiman Njoku, highlighted the challenges Muslims of Igbo extraction face in the southeast. The southeast is predominantly dominated by the Igbo tribe who primarily practice Christianity apart from the traditional religion.
