Tinubu Govt Distances Itself from N200,000 Gift to Teen English Champion, Clarifies Position

The Federal Government has clarified that the N200,000 presented to 15-year-old Nafisah Abdullahi, winner of the TeenEagle Global English Competition, did not come from public funds but was a personal donation from the Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa.

In a statement issued Thursday by the Ministry’s Director of Press and Public Relations, Boriowo Folasade, the government stressed that the token was not financed by either the Federal Ministry of Education or the Presidency.

> “For the avoidance of doubt, the monetary tokens presented at the national recognition event held on August 28 were personal gifts from the Honourable Minister of Education. These gifts were not funded by the Federal Government or the Ministry,” the statement read.

The clarification follows widespread criticism, particularly from the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), which described the amount as “grossly inadequate” for a student who earned global recognition. The group compared the N200,000 reward to the multi-million-naira packages awarded to Nigeria’s Super Falcons and D’Tigress after their recent sporting triumphs.

Earlier this year, the Tinubu administration gifted each member of the Super Falcons and D’Tigress N152 million in cash, national honours, and three-bedroom apartments in Abuja following their victories at the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) and the FIBA Afrobasket Championship.

NANS argued that the stark difference between rewards for athletes and students showed how intellectual excellence is undervalued in Nigeria, warning that it risks discouraging academic pursuits.

Responding to the backlash, the Education Ministry explained that it has no budgetary provision for cash awards. It noted that financial support is only available through scholarships and structured educational programmes for students in public tertiary institutions.

Minister Alausa, quoted in the statement, said his gesture was “a token of appreciation to celebrate the girls’ achievements and encourage other children to aim higher.”

The Ministry reiterated its commitment to building a globally competitive education system and delivering on President Bola Tinubu’s education vision, while urging Nigerians to focus on encouraging students to strive for academic excellence.