Ex-Minister Pantami Urges Tinubu to Reward Teen English Champion Like Super Falcons and D’Tigress

Prof. Isa Ali Pantami, former Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, has called on President Bola Tinubu to recognize and reward 17-year-old Nafisa Abdullah Aminu, who recently won a global English competition in the UK, in the same manner as the government rewarded Nigeria’s Super Falcons and D’Tigress teams for their sporting victories.

In a post on his verified X account on Tuesday, Pantami appealed to the federal government to match the cash prizes, houses, and national honours given to the female sports teams with similar awards for Nafisa.

Nafisa, a student at Nigerian Tulip International College (NTIC) in Yobe State, emerged victorious among more than 20,000 contestants from 69 countries—including native English-speaking nations—at the 2025 TeenEagle Global Finals held in the United Kingdom.

“Nafisa deserves recognition: $100,000, a flat, and an Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON),” Pantami wrote, praising the teenager’s dedication, innate talent, and the support she received from her family and school.

He highlighted Nafisa’s achievement as proof that Nigerian students can excel on the world stage when provided with the right environment.

Drawing a parallel with recent sports successes, Pantami reminded that the Super Falcons’ Women’s Africa Cup win and D’Tigress’ historic fifth AfroBasket title were rewarded with significant prizes and national honours.

“What is good for the goose is good for the gander. Nafisa and her English teacher deserve the same kind of reward,” he stated.

Pantami emphasized the critical role of valuing education as a cornerstone for national growth and development.

The call for equal recognition comes amid mixed public reactions to the government’s generous rewards for female sports stars, with some praising the move while others criticized it as misplaced priorities, as recently reported by Nigeria News 247.