Northern Leaders, Citizens Slam President Tinubu Over Failure to Reward Yobe Schoolgirls Who Won Global English Competition
Story: Written by Daniel Reporter for springnewsng media August 11,2025
Prominent voices from Northern Nigeria have expressed anger and disappointment over President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s failure to reward three outstanding students from Yobe State who brought global glory to the country.
The students — Nafisa Abdullahi Aminu, Rukayya Muhammad Fema, and Hadiza Kashim Kalli — won top prizes at the 2025 TeenEagle Global Finals in London, excelling in English language skills, debate, and talent competitions. They triumphed over tens of thousands of participants from nearly 70 countries, earning international recognition.
While Yobe State Governor Mai Mala Buni promised to celebrate their achievement with a grand reception, expectations for federal recognition were unmet. The President congratulated the girls for their “resilience and boundless potential” but offered no tangible rewards, sparking outrage across the North.
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and ex-Minister Isa Ali Pantami publicly called on the Federal Government to grant the girls national honours such as the Order of the Niger (OON), financial rewards, and even housing — similar to the rewards recently given to the Super Falcons and D’Tigress, who received $100,000 each, national honours, and brand-new homes after winning continental championships.
Many Northerners see this omission as part of a wider pattern of neglect. Social media has been awash with criticism, with users accusing the Federal Government of sidelining achievements from the region. Some vowed that this perceived bias would be remembered during the 2027 elections.
Mustapha Aminu Maigano, in a viral post, urged the President to act:
“Award her with a national honour, provide a lifetime scholarship, gift her family a house, and use her story to inspire millions of Nigerian children. Rewarding Nafisa is rewarding education and the future of Nigeria.”
Mairo Muhammad Mudi, another concerned citizen, contrasted the federal response to the athletes’ victories with the lack of recognition for the Yobe girls. She questioned whether their northern roots played a role in the snub, noting that the region has endured years of conflict and underdevelopment.
Some northern residents believe this is yet another sign of political neglect. Buhari Abubakar told reporters, “The President doesn’t take the North seriously. We will show him at the polls.”
However, others argue that comparing the Yobe girls’ recognition to that of national sports teams is unfair, since the latter represented the entire country on the global stage.
This controversy comes just weeks after top northern politicians, including Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso and former SSG Babachir Lawal, accused President Tinubu of marginalising the North in federal appointments and resource allocation.
The debate continues, but for many in the North, the lack of federal reward for these young champions is a painful reminder of perceived inequities — and a political memory they say they will carry into the next election.
