President Bola Tinubu has extended warm congratulations to three Nigerian students, Nafisa Aminu, Rukayya Fema, and Hadiza Kalli, for their remarkable success at the 2025 TeenEagle Global competition held in London, United Kingdom.
In a message issued Tuesday through his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the President described the girls as “exceptional young Nigerians” whose achievements have brought pride to the nation on a global stage.
The three students, according to the presidential statement, emerged victorious in various categories of the international contest, which focused on English communication skills and debate. Seventeen-year-old Nafisa Aminu was celebrated for being the overall best in English language skills, while 15-year-old Rukayya Fema clinched the top position in debate. Meanwhile, Hadiza Kalli earned the Outstanding Talent Award, receiving a gold medal in recognition of her performance.
President Tinubu lauded their brilliance and emphasized that their success exemplifies the bright future awaiting Nigeria through its youth. “The nation’s future is much brighter with many of its youth as repositories of excellence,” the President remarked, underscoring the potential that lies within Nigeria’s educational landscape.
In his message, Tinubu also acknowledged the role of the girls’ respective schools in fostering excellence and nurturing their talents. He noted that the achievement of the trio demonstrates the capacity of Nigeria’s education system to produce globally competitive intellects when properly supported.
The President used the opportunity to reaffirm his administration’s commitment to expanding access to quality education. He cited the establishment of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) as a strategic intervention designed to eliminate financial obstacles for students, particularly those from economically disadvantaged backgrounds, in their pursuit of higher education.
Tinubu’s commendation followed growing public calls for national recognition and reward for the young champions. Among those advocating for such recognition was a former Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Isa Pantami, who on Tuesday used his official X (formerly Twitter) handle to call on the Federal Government to honour the exceptional accomplishment of Nafisa Aminu.
Pantami praised Nafisa, a student of Nigerian Tulip International College (NTIC) in Yobe State, for surpassing over 20,000 contestants from 69 different countries, many of which included native English-speaking nations, to become the overall best in English at the international finals. He described her feat as both historic and deserving of immediate celebration by the Nigerian government.
He urged the authorities to award Nafisa with a $100,000 prize, a three-bedroom home, and a national honour similar to the accolades presented to Nigeria’s women’s football and basketball teams, the Super Falcons and D’Tigress, respectively. Furthermore, he recommended that her English teacher receive similar recognition, stating that both talent and the educators behind that talent deserve to be celebrated.
According to Pantami, the factors that contributed to Nafisa’s victory include not only her natural intelligence and hard work but also the unwavering support of her family and school community. He implored the federal government to extend an invitation to Nafisa and her teacher to visit the presidency, arguing that academic triumphs such as hers should be given the same national spotlight and applause as those achieved in sports.
As Nigerians across the globe continue to shower praise on these young scholars, the President’s message serves as a powerful reminder of the transformative role that education plays in shaping future leaders and global ambassadors of excellence.
What You Should Know
Nafisa Aminu, Rukayya Fema, and Hadiza Kalli represented Nigeria at the 2025 TeenEagle Global competition in London and emerged as world champions in English skills and debate.
President Tinubu praised their achievements and highlighted his administration’s push for education reform. The calls for further national recognition, including financial rewards and honours, underscore a growing demand for Nigeria to equally celebrate academic excellence alongside sports.
