Last week was a glorious one for Nigeria. From the football pitch to the basketball court and even across the oceans in the realm of academic excellence, Nigerian women stood tall and made us proud. In a country often starved of good news, three shining victories came in quick succession, reminding us that when given the right environment, Nigerian girls can conquer the world.
First, the Super Falcons made history again by clinching the 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) trophy in Morocco. Then, our indomitable D’Tigress, Nigeria’s women’s basketball team, brought home their fifth consecutive FIBA Women’s AfroBasket title, defeating Mali in grand style.
Both victories were met with euphoria. The president, in a commendable gesture, rolled out national honours, cash gifts of $100,000 per player, and brand-new homes for the champions and their coaches. It was a presidential moment worthy of applause. Nigerians across the country celebrated.
But then, came another victory, perhaps quieter, but no less historic.
A team of three brilliant schoolgirls from Yobe State, Fatima Adamu, Falmata Bukar, and Aisha Usman rose from the supposedly “educationally disadvantaged” North-East and stunned the world by winning first place in an international English competition in London. Competing against students from 69 other countries, they brought home gold not on a field or court, but in the intellectual battlefield of grammar, articulation, and knowledge.
Now, here lies the burning question: Why were they treated differently?
Why were the Super Falcons and D’Tigress honoured, but the Yobe girls only received a congratulatory message from the Presidency? Why were there no national honours, no cash gifts, no housing schemes, and not even the spotlight they deserved?
Let’s be clear, this is not a campaign to diminish the achievements of our sports heroines. They earned every kobo and medal they received. But it raises an important concern are we building a nation that rewards fame over intellect?
For far too long, our society has glorified entertainment and sport with astronomical rewards, while leaving education, science, and innovation begging at the backdoor. MTN Nigeria, for instance, donated a whopping ₦150 million to the Super Falcons, yet remained deafeningly silent about the Yobe girls. Where were the billboards, the breakfast receptions, and the media campaigns for Fatima, Falmata, and Aisha?
Is it because they came from Yobe State, a region that has suffered years of conflict and underdevelopment? Or is it because their win did not trend as much on social media?
What makes this snub more disheartening is that the President is aware of their victory, his congratulatory message proves that. Yet, no action has followed, leading many in the North to begin asking difficult questions: Does the President only respond to Southern achievements? Is the North no longer on the national radar?
This is not just political talk. Many Northerners feel ignored after massively voting for this administration. Unfortunately, his appointees from the North seem more interested in retaining their seats than conveying the true sentiments of their people. But this silence cannot continue. Mr. President must use this moment to show that excellence, no matter where it originates from, will be celebrated equally under his leadership.
We must also commend the Governor of Yobe State, His Excellency Mai Mala Buni, for not waiting for Abuja’s nod. He received the girls, celebrated them, and pledged to support their future. That is leadership, and it deserves praise.
But this win belongs to Nigeria, not just Yobe. And President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has a chance to make this right.
By honouring these girls at the national level, he would send a powerful message to millions of parents in the North: “Your daughters are not only capable, they are worthy of national pride.” It would also reinforce the belief that education still matters in a nation obsessed with stardom and celebrity.
So, Mr. President, we are still waiting, not for another congratulatory message, but for a bold, historic action that proves that this administration celebrates brains as much as brawn, and rewards intellect as much as goals.
Fatima, Falmata, and Aisha have already made Nigeria proud. Now, Nigeria must make them proud in return.
* Mairo Muhammad Mudi is a journalist based in Suleja Niger State. E-mail: mairommuhammad@gmail.com
