The First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu, has commended Maryam Ibrahim Dan’Azumi for winning the women’s category at the 46th King Abdulaziz International Qur’anic Competition in Makkah, Saudi Arabia.

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‎The first lady gave the commendation on Tuesday in Abuja and awarded Ms Dan’Azumi N20 million.

‎She was accompanied by her father, Ibrahim Dan’Azumi, the Governor of Gombe State, Inuwa Yahaya, and other members of the state government.

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‎Ms Tinubu described Ms Dan’Azumi’s accomplishment as a source of pride to the nation and the girl child globally.

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‎She described the winner as an inspiration to the girl child and commended her parents for supporting her education and nurturing her talent.

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‎She said the award was not only a personal triumph but also a source of national pride, as she has placed Nigeria prominently on the global stage through her mastery of the Holy Qur’an.

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‎The first lady described Ms Dan’Azumi and her elder sister, Hajara, who came first in a similar competition in Jordan in 2024, as inspiration to young Nigerians.

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‎She particularly commended their parents, teachers, mentors, and Mr Yahaya for their mentorship and support.

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‎”Maryam’s achievement shows the value of hard work, discipline and dedication.

“I urge her to embrace mentorship as she advances in her education,” Ms Tinubu said.

She said education remained a key priority of President Bola Tinubu’s administration, with emphasis on inclusive education and creating opportunities for young Nigerians to develop their talents.

‎The first lady also announced her willingness to support Ms Dan’Azumi’s pursuit of a postgraduate degree.

Earlier, the Gombe State governor said that the state was not deficient in education.

Mr Yahaya described Ms Dan’Azumi’s achievement as a source of pride to Gombe State and Nigeria, noting that she had progressed through local and national Qur’anic competitions before qualifying for the international contest.

‎Responding, Ms Dan’Azumi thanked the first lady for the honour.

She said that participating in the Saudi Arabian competition gave her global exposure.

She said she hoped her achievement would inspire other young Nigerians to work harder and excel.

Ms Dan’ Azumi further expressed gladness and joyfully presented her award to the first lady.

‎She encouraged the youths to develop themselves both mentally and physically.

(NAN)