By Bashir Rabe Mani, Sokoto
The Sultan of Sokoto and President-General of the Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, has congratulated Maryam Ibrahim Dan’azumi of Gombe State on emerging as the overall winner of the 46th King Abdulaziz International Qur’anic Competition in Makkah, Saudi Arabia.
Dan’azumi, an indigene of Gombe State and a student of Abubakar Siddiq Community Islamic School for Qur’anic Memorisation, Herwagana Quarters, Gombe, represented Nigeria at the prestigious international competition.
She competed in the category involving memorisation of the entire Holy Qur’an, recitation, Tajweed and interpretation, covering 60 Hizb with Tafsir.
In a statement issued on Friday, August 21, 2026, and signed by Prince Bashir Adefaka on behalf of the Sultan’s Media Team, the Sultan described Dan’azumi’s victory as a source of immense pride for Nigeria and the global Muslim Ummah.
He said the achievement demonstrated the exceptional potential of Nigerian Muslim youths when provided with the right opportunities, guidance and mentorship.
The Sultan noted that Dan’azumi’s victory was particularly significant because the 46th edition of the competition marked the first participation of female contestants in its 46-year history.
He expressed delight that a Nigerian girl emerged as the overall winner of the prestigious international competition, describing the feat as another demonstration of the capabilities of Nigerian youths, particularly girls.
The Sultan also recalled the achievement of 17-year-old Nafisa Aminu, a student of Nigerian Tulip International College (NTIC), Yobe State, who emerged overall best in English language skills at the 2025 TeenEagle Global Finals in London, United Kingdom.
Nafisa reportedly defeated more than 20,000 participants from 69 countries, including native English-speaking nations, at the competition.
According to the Sultan, the achievements of Dan’azumi and Nafisa underscore the importance of investing in the education and development of the girl child, particularly in northern Nigeria and across the country.
He reaffirmed his longstanding advocacy for girl-child education and expressed satisfaction with the growing number of Muslim women excelling in professional fields, including medicine and other disciplines.
The Sultan further said proficiency in Arabic provides Muslim children with an important avenue for understanding the Qur’an and practising their faith, while sound education remains essential to building a disciplined, productive and responsible society.
He described Dan’azumi’s journey from local and regional competitions to national and international recognition as a remarkable example of what dedication, discipline, education and effective mentorship can achieve.
The Sultan said the Nigerian Muslim community and the country at large would not take the achievement for granted.
He congratulated Dan’azumi, her parents, teachers, school and the Gombe State Government for their contributions to her success, urging other young Nigerians to emulate her commitment to excellence.
He prayed that Allah would continue to increase Dan’azumi in knowledge and wisdom and make her achievement a source of inspiration to young girls and boys across Nigeria.
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