By Fatima Saka
Nigeria has recorded a major international achievement as two young Nigerians, Maryam and Muhammad, emerged among the 50 winners at the 46th King Abdulaziz International Qur’an Competition in Saudi Arabia.
The competition, one of the world’s most prestigious Qur’an contests, featured 334 contestants from 133 countries, bringing together outstanding Qur’an memorisers and reciters from across the globe.
The 2026 edition also marked a significant milestone, with more than SAR10.26 million, estimated at about ₦4.1 billion, awarded as prize money to successful contestants.
The emergence of Maryam and Muhammad among the winners has been described as a proud moment for Nigeria, given the highly competitive nature of the international contest.
Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, congratulated the two young Nigerians, describing their success as a reflection of the talent, discipline and potential of Nigerian youths.
She said their achievement went beyond winning a competition, noting that they had represented Nigeria with distinction and projected a positive image of the country on an important global platform.
Dabiri-Erewa said the feat should inspire other young Nigerians to pursue excellence through hard work, determination and dedication.
The NiDCOM boss also commended the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for its sustained commitment to promoting Qur’an memorisation, recitation and study through the King Abdulaziz International Qur’an Competition.
She said the platform had, for more than four decades, provided young Muslims from different parts of the world an opportunity to demonstrate their knowledge and dedication to the Holy Qur’an.
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“Congratulations, Maryam and Muhammad. Nigeria is proud of you,” Dabiri-Erewa said.
NiDCOM said it celebrates the two winners and wishes them continued success in their Qur’anic journey as they continue to bring honour to Nigeria on the international stage.
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