“A Grateful Nation Should Reward Excellence” — Presidency Defends Tinubu’s Cash Gift to Super Falcons

The Presidency has defended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s recent cash reward and national honours conferred on the Super Falcons, following a wave of mixed reactions across social and traditional media.

Responding through a post on his verified X (formerly Twitter) account, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, said Tinubu’s gesture was one of national gratitude. He described the reward as a celebration of “excellence, creativity, hard work, soccer artistry and the undying Nigerian spirit.”

Onanuga also questioned the backlash over the President’s generosity, drawing comparisons with reality television prizes. “When you remember that Multichoice, the organizer of the BBNaija reality show, is offering the winner ₦150 million grand prize, you wonder why some Nigerians are unappreciative of President Tinubu’s rewards to the Super Falcons,” he wrote.

President Tinubu had on Monday announced a cash reward equivalent to \$100,000 (approximately ₦153 million) for each player and \$50,000 (₦75.6 million) for each member of the coaching crew, bringing the total to ₦4.5 billion. In addition, each squad member received the national honour of Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON) and was allocated a three-bedroom apartment.

The announcement came after the Super Falcons clinched their 10th Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) title in Rabat, Morocco—a milestone widely hailed as a golden chapter in Nigerian sports history. While the move earned praise for spotlighting women’s sports and honouring national achievement, some Nigerians online expressed concerns over the economic implications and timing of the rewards.

Onanuga maintained that the President’s gesture reflects his administration’s commitment to recognising merit and inspiring future excellence.