While Nigeria rightly celebrated the Super Falcons’ WAFCON victory with national honours, cash, and houses worth millions, the N200,000 reward for Nafisa Abdullah Aminu’s world-beating intellectual achievement highlights a troubling national preference for brawn over brain, arguing for a system that equitably celebrates both forms of excellence.
In the span of a month, the Nigerian government presided over two celebratory events that perfectly illustrate a deep-seated national paradox. In one, 17-year-old Nafisa Abdullah Aminu was honoured for emerging as the World’s Best in English Language Skills at the 2025 TeenEagle Global Finals in London. For this unparalleled intellectual feat—beating the world in a fundamental skill—she was presented with a cheque of N200,000 by the Minister of Education.
In the other, President Bola Tinubu hosted the Super Falcons following their record-extending 10th Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) victory. Each player was conferred with a national honour (OON), gifted the naira equivalent of $100,000 (approximately N150 million), and awarded a three-bedroom apartment. The math is jarring: Nigeria valued a single player’s athletic triumph nearly 750 times more than a student’s global intellectual conquest.
This is not an argument to diminish the Falcons’ accomplishment. Their victory was historic, hard-fought, and deserving of every accolade. They represented Nigerian grit on the continental stage and brought joy to millions. The problem is not that they were rewarded handsomely; the problem is that the nation’s intellectual champions are not.
The disparity sends a dangerous message about Nigeria’s priorities. It screams that the temporary euphoria of a sporting victory is worth more than the long-term, foundational value of intellectual supremacy. Nafisa’s achievement is a different kind of goal—one that demonstrates the potential of Nigerian youth to lead in fields beyond sports, to compete and dominate on the global stage through intellect and eloquence. As Minister of Education Dr. Tunji Alausa rightly said, her feat is “a testament to the brilliance and resilience of Nigerian students” that “underscores the need for sustained investment in education.” Yet, the monetary value assigned to this brilliance is less than the cost of a single boot worn by a Falcon during their final match.
Prof. Abba Adam, Yobe State Commissioner for Basic Education, hailed Nafisa and her peers as “Amazons” and symbols of resilience, noting their success represents “the collective progress of a state rebuilding its education sector after years of insurgency.” If these are our intellectual Amazons, why are we equipping them with a slingshot when we arm our athletic heroes with artillery?
The solution is not to reward the Falcons less, but to reward the Nafisas of this country more. Nigeria must build a culture that celebrates brain AND brawn with equitable fervour. A world champion in English language skills should be a household name, feted with national honours and scholarships that ensure her path is paved for further greatness, not a token cheque that barely covers a year of university textbooks.
Imagine the signal it would send if a student who brings a global academic trophy home was guaranteed a full university scholarship, a significant cash prize, and national recognition on par with an athlete. It would ignite a generation of students to strive for academic excellence, proving that intellect is a viable path to national recognition and success.
Rewarding Both Brain and Brawn
A great nation cannot be built on brawn alone. The future of Nigeria depends just as much on its innovators, scientists, artists, and problem-solvers as it does on its athletes. Rewarding academic excellence on a scale comparable to athletic achievements would send an unambiguous signal that intelligence, critical thinking, and intellectual curiosity are assets of immense national value. It would inspire students to dedicate themselves to their studies, knowing their efforts will be recognized and celebrated in a meaningful way.
The government has a golden opportunity to do more than just applaud excellence; it can create a culture that fosters it. The rewards for the Super Falcons were a magnificent start to valuing our heroes. Now, the administration must go a step further and ensure that our academic champions, like Nafisa, are similarly celebrated. By doing so, Nigeria can prove that it is committed to fostering both brain and brawn, creating a truly balanced society where all forms of excellence are equally appreciated and rewarded.