Senator Oluremi Tinubu Awards Maryam Ibrahim, Winner of International Quranic Competition, N20m

Summary: Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has awarded N20 million to Maryam Ibrahim Dan’Azumi, the winner of the 46th King Abdulaziz International Qur’anic Competition for the female category.

Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has awarded N20 million to Maryam Ibrahim Dan’Azumi, the winner of the 46th King Abdulaziz International Qur’anic Competition for the female category. The money was presented to the awardee at the Presidential Villa in Abuja on Tuesday, September 15, 2026.

Maryam is a 19-year-old Nigerian Quranic scholar and a final-year Physics Education student at Gombe State University. Before her international victory, she proved her mastery locally by securing top positions at state levels and winning the female category at the 40th National Qur’anic Recitation Competition held in Maiduguri, Borno State. At the 2026 edition of the prestigious King Abdulaziz competition, which marked the first time women were allowed to participate in its 46-year history. 

Maryam competed against 334 contestants from 133 countries, winning first place in the 60 Hizb with Tajweed and Tafseer category with an outstanding score of 97.70 marks. Her triumph earned her a grand prize of 300,000 Saudi Riyals (₦120 million), national honours, and a ₦20 million educational gift from Senator Oluremi Tinubu. 

Senator Oluremi’s educational grant highlights her continuous focus on girl-child empowerment, academic excellence, and sub-national human capital development. Through her initiative, the Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI), she has empowered many women, widows, and vulnerable groups across the nation’s 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory through several structured interventions, such as economic empowerment for female petty traders, the Food Bank Programme, support for women in agriculture, and others.