The Sultan of Sokoto and President-General of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), His Eminence Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, has formally congratulated Maryam Ibrahim Dan’azumi of Gombe State, following her historic victory as the overall winner of the 46th King Abdulaziz International Qur’anic Competition held in Makkah, Saudi Arabia.
In an official statement signed by Prince Bashir Adefaka on behalf of the Sultan’s Media Team, His Eminence described Dan’azumi’s victory on the international stage as a milestone achievement and a source of immense pride for Nigeria and the global Muslim Ummah.
Dan’azumi, a student of the Abubakar Siddiq Community Islamic School for Qur’anic Memorisation in Herwagana Quarters, Gombe State, represented Nigeria in the competition’s highest category: the memorisation of the complete Holy Qur’an (60 Hizb), alongside recitation, Tajweed, and full textual interpretation (Tafsir).
The Sultan highlighted that the 46th edition of the prestigious tournament marked the first time female contestants were permitted to compete in its 46-year history.
A Nigerian scholar emerging as the top contestant globally in this landmark year underscores the vast potential of Nigerian youth when provided with proper guidance and educational infrastructure.
In his statement, the Sultan drew a parallel between Dan’azumi’s triumph in Saudi Arabia and the recent success of another young Northern Nigerian student, 17-year-old Nafisa Aminu of the Nigerian Tulip International College (NTIC), Yobe State.
Aminu gained international acclaim in 2025 after placing first among more than 20,000 global participants at the TeenEagle Global Finals in London.
His Eminence emphasized that these back-to-back international achievements by young women reinforce the critical necessity of investing in girl-child education across Northern Nigeria and the country as a whole.
He reaffirmed his ongoing advocacy for holistic education, noting that sound religious knowledge alongside proficiency in professional disciplines—such as medicine and science—is essential for building a disciplined, productive, and responsible society.
Acknowledging the rigorous journey Dan’azumi undertook from local and national qualifiers to the global stage, the Sultan commended her parents, teachers, Islamic scholars, and the Gombe State Government for their continuous support and mentorship.
His Eminence concluded the statement with prayers for Dan’azumi’s continued wisdom and success, urging young Nigerians across the nation to emulate her discipline, dedication, and relentless pursuit of excellence.
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