Again, Tinubu rewards athletes with N150m each, national honours

By David Ngobua & Baba Martins   President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has conferred national honours, financial gifts and housing reward on all players and technical officials of Nigeria’s women’s national basketball team, D’Tigress, following their historic victory at the 2025 FIBA Women’s AfroBasket Championship. The Rena Wakama tutored side defeated Mali 78–64 in Sunday night’s […]

By David Ngobua & Baba Martins

 

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has conferred national honours, financial gifts and housing reward on all players and technical officials of Nigeria’s women’s national basketball team, D’Tigress, following their historic victory at the 2025 FIBA Women’s AfroBasket Championship.

The Rena Wakama tutored side defeated Mali 78–64 in Sunday night’s final at the Palais des Sports de Treichville in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, to secure their seventh AfroBasket title overall and fifth consecutive title.

During the reception at the Presidential Villa on Monday, President Tinubu, who was represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima, awarded each player and technical crew member the title of Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON).

He also directed the allocation of one flat for each player, coach and technical crew member.

The President approved a cash award of the naira equivalent of $100,000 to each player, and $50,000 equivalent for the coach and each technical team member.

President Tinubu praised the team for becoming the first African team to qualify for the 2026 FIBA Women’s World Cup Pre-Qualifying Tournament.

“It is my profound honour and pleasure to welcome to the State House our remarkable Women’s National Basketball Team, D’Tigress – continental champions once more, and now the first African team to qualify for the 2026 FIBA Women’s World Cup Pre-Qualifying Tournament. You have conquered Africa and opened the door to global greatness,” he said.

He also described the team’s emphatic 78-64 victory over Mali as more than just a game, calling it “a powerful statement of Nigerian resilience, tactical excellence, and national pride.

President Tinubu particularly commended Coach Rena Wakama, saying, “To Coach Rena Wakama, you represent the evolution of leadership in Nigerian sports.

“Your quiet strength and historic achievements have shattered ceilings and inspired countless young girls nationwide, who now know that no dream is too bold for a Nigerian woman. Indeed, you deserved your award as the best coach in Africa and the world,” he stated.

He also recognised the tournament’s Most Valuable Player (MVP), Amy Okonkwo, and top scorer in the final, Ezinne Kalu, saying, “To Amy Okonkwo, the tournament MVP, and Ezinne Kalu, top scorer in the final, your brilliance elevated the entire team. But most importantly, you did not play for yourselves. You played for and won with Nigeria.

Also speaking, the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, applauded the team, saying it was not just a win on the court but a resounding statement of “hard work, excellence, and national pride.”

The wife of the President noted that the victory of the D’Tigress is a moment that will stick with generations of Nigerian girls and women, encouraging them to pursue greatness, even as she said the victory is a clear education that hard work and teamwork are what it takes to succeed.

Coming barely a week after the Super Falcon brought home the WAFCON 2024 golden cup from Morocco, Senator Remi Tinubu said that while the nation is yet to get over the euphoria of the women’s football team’s victory, D’Tigress has given the nation “another reason to believe in the power of Nigerian women to break barriers and set new records”.

Earlier, D’Tigress Captain, Amy Okonkwo, who was also named the MVP of the AfroBasket Women 2025 tournament, thanked the President and the First Lady for supporting young Nigerian women.

She noted that she and the other members of the team are glad for the opportunity to represent Nigeria at the tournament, as well as to inspire young girls around the world to embrace sports.

Igoche Mark, Aigbonoga hail cash reward for D’Tigress

A former Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF) presidential candidate, Igoche Mark, has hailed D’Tigress over their historic fifth consecutive Afrobasket title.

In a statement released yesterday, the basketball administrator said: “I extend my heartfelt congratulations to D’Tigress and Coach Rena Wakama for this extraordinary accomplishment.

“D’Tigress’ victory is not just a win for the team but a beacon of hope and inspiration for aspiring athletes across Nigeria.”

Mark also extended his appreciation to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the generous cash reward and national honours conferred on the players and officials of the team.

He said it would go a long way in motivating other Nigerian athletes to put in their best whenever they go out to represent the country.

“Such gesture will inspire and motivate athletes across Nigeria to pursue excellence. The president’s commitment to rewarding the Super Falcons and now D’Tigress is testament to the value the President has placed on hard work and dedication,” said Mark.

In the same vein, a former vice-chairman of the FCT Basketball Association, Kingsley Aigbonoga said: “The recent cash gifts from the President, along with other incentives, represent a positive development in Nigerian sports.

“These moral and financial rewards provide athletes with the much needed motivation and a sense of purpose, encouraging them to strive for excellence in representing their country.”

Meanwhile, yesterday’s reception for D’Tigress came exactly a week after President Tinubu hosted the nation’s female football team, the Super Falcons, who won a resounding tenth WAFCON title in Rabat, Morocco.

Similarly, each of the players also got $100,000, national honours, and a three-bedroom apartment in Abuja sparking mixed reactions among Nigerians.

When Daily Trust calculated the dollars splashed on the Super Falcons and their officials by the President and the Nigerian Governors’ Forum at the exchange rate of N1,562/1$, it amounted to N4.952bn.