The Federal Government has clarified that the ₦200,000 cash award presented to Nafisah Abdullahi, winner of the TeenEagle Global Finals competition, did not come from public funds but was a personal gift from the Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa.
This was contained in a statement issued on Thursday by the Director of Press and Public Relations at the Federal Ministry of Education, Boriowo Folasade, following widespread criticism of the amount awarded.
According to the ministry, “the monetary tokens presented at the national recognition event held on Thursday, 28th August 2025, were personal gifts from the Honourable Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa. These gifts were not funded by the Federal Government or the Federal Ministry of Education.”
The clarification comes after the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) and other groups condemned the ₦200,000 token as grossly inadequate, contrasting it with the lavish rewards recently extended to Nigeria’s Super Falcons and D’Tigress after their continental triumphs.
Following their victories at the 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) and the FIBA Afrobasket Championship, the Tinubu administration rewarded the athletes with ₦152 million ($100,000) each, national honours, and three-bedroom homes in the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Housing Estate in Abuja.
NANS said the disparity reflects Nigeria’s misplaced priorities, where sports receive more recognition than academic excellence. The association urged the Federal Government to upwardly review the reward, arguing that anything less would undermine the dignity of students and discourage intellectual pursuit.
The ministry, however, maintained that there was no budgetary allocation for cash awards or gifts, noting that its financial provisions are strictly for scholarships and structured educational support to students in public tertiary institutions.
Quoting the Minister, the statement said: “This gift was just a token of my appreciation of the effort made by these young girls and to also serve as encouragement to other girls and young children in Nigeria to excel.”
Reiterating its commitment, the ministry assured Nigerians of its dedication to building a globally competitive education system and delivering on President Bola Tinubu’s vision for quality learning.
“This clarification should lay to rest any misinformation as we continue to encourage all Nigerian children to pursue excellence and reach the highest levels of academic achievement,” the statement added.
