{"id":121732,"date":"2025-08-30T17:46:04","date_gmt":"2025-08-30T16:46:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pointblanknews.com\/pbn\/?p=121732"},"modified":"2025-08-30T17:46:04","modified_gmt":"2025-08-30T16:46:04","slug":"fgs-gift-of-100000-houses-to-falcons-n200000-to-english-champion-sparks-outrage","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pointblanknews.com\/pbn\/news\/fgs-gift-of-100000-houses-to-falcons-n200000-to-english-champion-sparks-outrage\/","title":{"rendered":"FG’s Gift of $100,000, Houses to Falcons, N200,000 to English Champion Sparks Outrage\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"
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By Oscar Okhifo<\/div>\n
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A storm of controversy is trailing the Federal Government\u2019s reward system after a stark disparity emerged between the treatment of Nigeria\u2019s athletes and a teenage academic prodigy.<\/div>\n
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Nafisah Abdullahi, a 15-year-old girl from Yobe State, recently beat over 20,000 students from 69 countries to emerge as the Best English-Speaking Teenager in the World after winning an international spelling contest.<\/div>\n
Her extraordinary feat drew admiration across the country.<\/div>\n
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However, while the Federal Government splashed $100,000 (about \u20a6160 million) and a house each on the victorious Super Falcons football team, as well as similar largesse for the national female basketball team, Nafisah was given only \u20a6200,000 (about $129) by Education Minister Prof. Tahir Alausa on behalf of the Tinubu-led administration.<\/div>\n
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The glaring contrast has triggered widespread outrage, with many Nigerians accusing the government of openly devaluing education while glorifying sports .<\/div>\n
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Public affairs analyst Mahdi Shehu described the token as \u201cthe highest level of insult,\u201d insisting that Abdullahi deserved far greater recognition.<\/div>\n
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\u201cCould it be that the current Federal Government gives sports and entertainment more importance than education? Where are all claims of Tinubu\u2019s love for education? Is it just a slogan and political statement?\u201d Shehu queried in a post on his X handle.<\/div>\n
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Critics also argue that the problem runs deeper than the Federal Government, pointing to Nigeria\u2019s long history of neglecting academic excellence. Earlier this year, the best graduating nursing student at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital received only \u20a630,000 from his department.<\/div>\n
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Pointblanknews.com gathered from a reliable source that, the exceptional nursing graduand\u00a0 begged colleagues not to publicize it.<\/div>\n
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In some schools, brilliant students have been rewarded with goats and chickens.<\/div>\n
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Analysts warn that such an askew reward culture sends the wrong message to the age’s\u00a0 youths who are already postulating that ” Western Education is a scam” Some prefer to say “Who degree certificate help?”<\/div>\n
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\u201cA society where sports persons, politicians and entertainers get more rewards and appreciation than academics and extremely brilliant citizens is a country on her way down,\u201d one\u00a0 Israel Olatunji said on radio.<\/div>\n
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Attention has also turned to Northern leaders. Many Nigerians expected Governors across the North to celebrate Nafisah in grand style, not only to honour her but,\u00a0 also to send a strong message out that the region is not anti- western education or against the academic rise of females. It would also show that the region\u2019s commitment to western education, particularly for the girl child is strong.<\/div>\n
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Critics describe it as ironic and unfortunate that a region which often celebrates graduands of Islamic schools and marriages with pomp has failed to give epic recognition to Nafisah, who brought pride to both the North and Nigeria on the global stage.<\/div>\n
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So far, only Yobe State Governor Mai Mala Buni has hosted her at a reception, with undisclosed gifts.<\/div>\n
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Public Affairs commentator,\u00a0 Mahdi Shehu, has announced plans to launch an online campaign on Monday, September 1, 2025, to raise \u20a6250 million for Nafisah and her family in appreciation of her achievement. Will he get the needed support from his co-Northerners? Time will tell.<\/div>\n
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The development has reignited debate about Nigeria\u2019s priorities and whether the nation\u2019s leaders truly value academic excellence on par with sports and entertainment. It’s high time this askew reward system is changed. This is the bottom line.<\/div>\n
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