…Pantami, Obi Demand National Honours for Nafisa
There has been jubilation across Nigeria since Monday after news broke that a 17-year-old girl from Yobe State, Nafisa Abdullahi Aminu, has been crowned the world’s best in English Language communication skills at the 2025 TeenEagle Global Finals held in London, United Kingdom.
Nafisa, a student of Nigerian Tulip International College (NTIC), defeated over 20,000 participants from 69 countries, including native English-speaking nations, to clinch the top spot in a competition that tested mastery of the English Language at the highest level.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, in a statement released by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, congratulated Nafisa alongside Rukayya Muhammad Fema, 15, and Hadiza Kashim Kalli who also emerged victorious in other categories at the competition.
While Nafisa was named overall best in English language skills, Rukayya came first in the debate category, and Hadiza clinched the gold medal for outstanding talent.
“The nation’s future is much brighter with many of its youth as repositories of excellence,” the President said in the statement.
President Tinubu described the girls’ achievements as a testament to the quality and potential of Nigeria’s education system and reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to investing in education.
He noted that efforts like the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) were targeted at removing financial barriers for indigent students, adding, “Education is a critical element for national development.”
He encouraged the girls to remain steadfast in their studies and wished them continued success.
Pantami: “Nafisa deserves $100,000, a flat, and national honour”
Former Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Prof. Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami, did not hold back in his praise for Nafisa, calling on the federal government to honour her the same way it honoured the national women’s football and basketball teams.
“I strongly recommend that Nafisa deserves $100,000, a three-bedroom flat, and a national honour from the federal government of Nigeria,” Pantami said in a personally signed statement.
He added, “In addition, her English teacher deserves a reward similar to the one given to the coaching and technical team of the football and basketball players. We must continue to take education very seriously and reward the efforts of our citizens.”
Pantami described Nafisa as a product of natural talent, discipline, dedication, and good schooling, noting that her victory proves that Nigerian students can compete globally when given the right opportunities and an enabling environment
He said: “Let’s invite our daughter and the daughter of all Nigerians, along with her English teacher, to the presidency. What is good for the goose is good for the gander.”
Peter Obi: “Rewarding excellence builds a nation of merit”
Also lending his voice to the growing calls for recognition, former Anambra State governor and Labour Party presidential candidate in the 2023 general elections, Mr Peter Obi, said Nafisa’s triumph should not go unnoticed.
“I warmly congratulate Miss Nafisa Abdullah Aminu, the exceptional 17-year-old student from Yobe State, on her outstanding achievement at the 2025 TeenEagle Global Finals in London,” Obi wrote.
He continued: “Her emergence as the top English language performer globally, outshining over 20,000 participants from 69 countries, is not only a personal triumph but a moment of great national pride.”
Obi called for a fully funded scholarship to be awarded to Nafisa, saying: “This remarkable feat calls for meaningful recognition. Recognising and supporting achievers like her is how we build a nation where merit is honoured and greatness is nurtured.”
Real Nigerian of the Week
The National Orientation Agency (NOA) has already crowned Nafisa as the “Real Nigerian of the Week”, describing her as “the Yobe teenager who beat 69 countries to win the global English championship”.
The agency highlighted that Nafisa’s feat was symbolic of the untapped potential in Nigerian youths, especially from the North, urging more investment in girl-child education.
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One comment
Zbs
August 7, 2025 at 9:40 pm
They deserve an honor