Things to know about Nigerian girl who won N120m at Saudi Arabia Qur’anic competition

Maryam Ibrahim Dan-Azumi, a student from Gombe State, Nigeria, has achieved a historic victory at the 46th King Abdulaziz International Qur’an Recitation Competition held in Makkah, Saudi Arabia.

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She emerged first in Saudi Arabia Maryam emerged first position in the second category, which covers memorisation of 60 Hizb of the Qur’an with Tafsir. She recorded an impressive 97.70 marks, finishing ahead of other contestants at the international competition.

Representing Nigeria, Maryam emerged as the overall winner in the second category, which focuses on the memorization of 60 Hizb of the Qur’an with Tafsir. She secured the top position with an impressive score of 97.70 marks, outperforming other international contestants.

Her triumph comes with a substantial prize reportedly valued at N120 million. This achievement is particularly significant as the 2026 competition marked the inaugural participation of female contestants in its 46-year history. Maryam's win establishes a landmark moment for female representation and success in the prestigious event.

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Maryam’s victory was particularly significant because the 2026 edition marked the first participation of female contestants in the 46-year history of the competition. Her emergence as the winner therefore marked a historic achievement for female participation in the competition.

Maryam, who honed her skills at the Abubakar Siddiq Community School for Qur’an Memorisation in Gombe, had previously excelled at the national level. She was the first-place winner in the female category at the 40th National Qur’anic Recitation Competition in Maiduguri, Borno State, where she also scored 97.70 marks and received prizes including a Toyota Corolla and an Umrah seat.

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Maryam hails from Gombe State, where she developed her Qur’anic memorisation skills at the Abubakar Siddiq Community School for Qur’an Memorisation, Herwagana Quarters, Gombe. Her school celebrated her latest achievement, describing it as a source of pride for Gombe State and the wider Muslim community.

Her journey includes other Qur’anic competition successes, such as winning the National Qur’an Recitation Competition of Nana Asma’u in February 2024. Her consistent victories have propelled her from local and state competitions to the national stage and now to international acclaim. Maryam is currently pursuing a degree in Physics Education.

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Maryam’s international victory was not her first major Qur’anic competition success. She had earlier emerged first in the female category at the 40th National Qur’anic Recitation Competition in Maiduguri, Borno State. She scored 97.70 marks in the memorisation of the entire Qur’an with Tafsir.