Isa Pantami, a former minister of communications and digital economy has called in President Bola Tinubu to reward Nafisa Aminu, the 17-year-old Nigerian student who emerged top global performer in English language skills at the 2025 TeenEagle Global Finals.
Pantami said it is important that the Federal Government rewards Aminu as it rewarded team members of the Super Falcons (Nigeria’s female footballers) and the D’Tigress (Nigeria’s female basketballers).
Recall that President Tinubu had rewarded both teams and their technical teams for emerging victorious in the just-concluded Women’s African Cup of Nations and the AfroBasket tournaments.
The teams while presenting their trophies to the president received cash prizes of $10,000 each, three-bedroom flats, and a national honour of the Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON).
Their technical teams also received a cash reward of $5,000.
Basing his argument on this, Pantami said the same reward should be presented to 17-year-old Aminu.
In a post on X, Pantami said, “I strongly recommend that Nafisa deserves $100,000, a three-bedroom flat, and a national honour from the federal government of Nigeria.
“In addition, her English teacher deserves a reward similar to the one given to the coaching and technical team of the football and basketball players. We must continue to take education very seriously and reward the efforts of our citizens,” Pantami wrote.
A student of Nigerian Tulip International College (NTIC), Yobe State, beat over 20,000 participants from 69 countries, including native English-speaking nations, to clinch the top prize.
According to Pantami, the teen’s success is evidence that Nigerian students can shine above their peers on the global stage.
“There is no doubt that her success can be attributed to her natural talent, dedication, discipline, and the support she received from her parents and the schools she attended.
“Nafisa’s achievement highlights her as a shining example of Nigerian students’ potential to excel globally with the right opportunities and enabling environment. This kind of feat requires more encouragement from the government.
“Let’s invite our daughter and the daughter of all Nigerians, along with her English teacher, to the presidency. What is good for the goose is good for the gander,” Pantemi added.