Why Tinubu Snubbed Genius but Gave Athletes $100k

A fresh controversy is brewing as Nigerians question the government’s double standard in rewarding excellence. Former Minister Isa Pantami has thrown his weight behind 17-year-old Nafisa Abdullah Aminu, who beat contestants from 69 countries to win a global English competition — yet has received no national honour. Unlike the female athletes who were given $100,000, houses, and national awards, Nafisa has been met with silence. The big question? Why is academic brilliance treated like second-class achievement in Nigeria?

When President Bola Ahmed Tinubu recently gifted Nigeria’s women football team and D’Tigress basketball team with $100,000, three-bedroom flats, and national honours, the nation applauded — but not everyone was clapping.

Fast forward to Nafisa Aminu, a teenage student from Yobe State, who just defeated over 20,000 competitors from 69 countries — including native English speakers — at the 2025 TeenEagle Global Finals in London. Yet, unlike her athletic counterparts, she’s received no visit to the Villa, no handshake from the President, no dollar prize, no flat. Nothing but silence.

Now, former Minister Prof. Isa Ali Pantami is demanding answers.

“This is not just a win for Yobe. It is a win for Nigeria. Why should the government keep quiet?” Pantami asked via his verified handle. He went further, demanding that Nafisa receive the same $100,000, a home, and national honour — just like the athletes.

“What is good for the goose is good for the gander,” Pantami wrote. “Nafisa deserves national recognition — and so does her English teacher. We must not be a nation that only values goals but ignores grades.”

Pantami isn’t just speaking from emotion. He reminded the public that the Super Falcons and D’Tigress got the same treatment after their continental victories — some even after losing crucial matches — while the likes of Nafisa, Okpako (UNIBEN’s best graduate) and other academic heroes continue to receive peanuts and “thank you” speeches.

Social media is already lit. Nigerians are now asking tough questions:

“How come NAFISA wey beat the world no get reward, but una dey share dollars give ball players?”
“We dey tell our children to read hard, but na athletes dey enjoy national cake!”
“If she kick ball now, dem go carry her go Villa sharp sharp.”

And it’s not just online. Educators, students, and advocacy groups are now pressuring the presidency to recognise academic excellence the same way it celebrates sports.

Even more damning is the comparison to UNIBEN best graduate, Ogheneochuko Okpako, who bagged a measly ₦5,000 after graduating with a 4.80 CGPA in Mechanical Engineering.

As of press time, there’s no official response from the Presidency. But the noise is getting louder. With 2027 around the corner and political alliances shifting, ignoring this issue could come at a cost.

For now, Nigerians are watching — and waiting.

Will Nafisa be honoured like the D’Tigress? Or will Nigeria once again turn its back on academic heroes?