For decades, Nigerian athletes returned home from international victories to empty promises and forgotten applause — a painful reality former athletes and sports administrators have long lamented.
Recently, President Tinubu rewrote that sad history when he honoured the Flamingos — the first African team ever to win the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup — with an unprecedented reward.
N100m in savings bonds for each player. N100m for the coach. N50m for each crew member. Delivered promptly, publicly, and with honour at the State House.
A savings bond is a safe investment issued by the Federal Government, where the government keeps your money for an agreed period — in this case, five years — and pays you regular interest on it. It means the girls’ N100m is not spent at once, but securely saved with the government, growing every month. At about 14 per cent interest per year, each player will earn over N1.1m every month for five years for her education, training and family needs, while the full N100m remains intact until she is an adult and can decide wisely how to use it.
“This is unprecedented,” The National Sports Commission, NSC Chairman, Shehu Dikko said. “No President has ever done this for our young girls.”
Today, under Tinubu, excellence is no longer ignored — it is celebrated, rewarded, and invested in.
The President’s message is clear: If you work hard for Nigeria, Nigeria will work hard for you. If you lift the flag, the President will lift you.
That is why coaches are now motivated, parents are now encouraging their daughters to play football, and young girls in every state now believe that talent can change their lives.
A leader who appreciates good work is a leader who inspires more good work.
Nigeria needs more of this. Nigeria needs Tinubu in 2027 to finish the work of restoring pride to our sports and our nation.
