The Federal Government has distanced itself from the N200,000 cash gift presented to 15-year-old Nafisah Abdullahi, winner of the TeenEagle Global English competition.
In a statement issued on Thursday, September 4, 2025, the Federal Ministry of Education clarified that the reward was not sponsored by the government or the ministry.
Instead, it was a personal gesture from the Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa.
The clarification followed public outrage after news broke that Abdullahi, who represented Nigeria on the global stage, received only N200,000. Critics described the amount as humiliating when compared with the multi-million-naira packages lavished on Nigerian sports teams.
The Director of Press and Public Relations at the ministry, Boriowo Folasade, stressed that the government had no budget for cash awards of that kind.
“The monetary tokens presented at the recognition event were personal gifts from the Honourable Minister of Education.
They were not funded by the Federal Government or the Ministry,” the statement read.
It added that the minister had publicly stated during the event and on his verified social media accounts that the gift was a personal contribution.
“Any claims suggesting otherwise are false and misleading,” the statement noted.
The backlash began after comparisons were drawn between Abdullahi’s reward and the grand packages given to Nigeria’s Super Falcons and D’Tigress.
The Tinubu administration had rewarded the football and basketball teams with ₦152 million each, national honours, and three-bedroom apartments in Abuja after their continental triumphs.
In contrast, Abdullahi’s modest reward angered the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) and other groups.
NANS argued that the disparity exposed how Nigeria undervalues academic excellence while prioritising sports achievements.
The association called on the government to urgently review the prize upward, warning that failure to do so could further discourage young Nigerians from pursuing intellectual excellence.
The ministry, however, maintained that its budgetary provisions are strictly dedicated to scholarships and structured educational support for students in public tertiary institutions.
It explained that the minister’s token should be viewed only as a personal act of generosity.
Quoting Alausa, the statement said, “This gift was just a token of my appreciation of the effort made by these young girls and to also serve as encouragement to other children in Nigeria to excel.”
While reaffirming its commitment to President Tinubu’s education reform agenda, the ministry said it remained focused on providing world-class learning opportunities rather than ad hoc financial rewards.
The government urged Nigerians to disregard misinformation and assured students of continued support through structured policies that promote excellence and global competitiveness.
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