Follow Us on Google
From Juliana Taiwo-Obalonye, Abuja
The Presidency has defended President Bola Tinubu’s decision to award $100,000 to each of the victorious Super Falcons, emphasising that such recognition honours excellence, hard work, and national pride.
The Presidency’s defense comes amid mixed reactions on social media; some users praised the reward as a rightful investment in national pride, while others questioned the allocation of funds.
Led by captain Rasheedat Ajibade, the Super Falcons achieved a dramatic 3–2 win over hosts Morocco, cementing their legacy as Africa’s most successful women’s football team.
Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, responded on his X handle @aonanuga1957 to critics questioning the size of the reward package for the 10-time Women’s Africa Cup of Nations champions.
Onanuga highlighted an ironic contrast, noting how some Nigerians celebrate the ₦150 million prize awarded to the winner of the Big Brother Naija reality show by Multichoice but criticise the President for rewarding the Falcons’ outstanding achievement.
Other News
“When you remember that Multichoice, the organiser of BBNaija, is offering the winner ₦150 million, you wonder why some Nigerians are unappreciative of President Tinubu’s rewards to the Super Falcons,” Onanuga wrote.
He described the President’s gesture as a deliberate effort to “reward excellence, creativity, hard work, soccer artistry and the undying Nigerian spirit” as demonstrated by the Falcons, who secured their 10th WAFCON title in Morocco.
“President Tinubu has rewarded excellence, creativity, hard work, soccer artistry and the undying Nigerian spirit,” he added.
President Tinubu had on announced Monday generous rewards including a three-bedroom flat in the newly renovated Hope Estate, equivalent of $100,000 (approximately ₦153 million) in cash, along with the distinguished Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON) honour to the players.
The President also gifted the 11-man technical team supporting the Super Falcons equivalent of $50,000 (around ₦75.6 million) each in cash awards as a token of appreciation for their contributions.
Further support came from the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), which announced a separate reward of ₦10 million for each of the players and the technical crew.
