Prominent Nigerian Scholar Advocates $100,000, Flat, and National Honour for Yobe’s Teen Champion
By Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami, CON
Co-Chairman, African Union’s 4IR Policy Council
LONDON, UK — Seventeen-year-old Nafisa Abdullah Aminu from Yobe State has captured international attention after emerging as the top global performer in English language proficiency at the 2025 TeenEagle Global Finals held in London.
Nafisa, a student of Nigerian Tulip International College (NTIC), triumphed over more than 20,000 contestants from 69 countries, including native English-speaking nations, to secure the coveted top spot in the global English language competition. Her extraordinary accomplishment has become a source of national pride and a beacon of hope for Nigeria’s education sector.
In the wake of her success, prominent voices are rising to urge the Nigerian government to offer national recognition and rewards to Nafisa, similar to what has been done in the sports sector. Notably, the Super Falcons, following their Women’s Africa Cup of Nations victory in Morocco, were each rewarded with $100,000, a three-bedroom flat, and the Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON) honour. The D’Tigress basketball team also received national appreciation after securing their fifth consecutive AfroBasket championship.
In light of this, Dr Isa Ali Pantami, a respected scholar and national figure, has called on the federal government to reward Nafisa Aminu with $100,000, a three-bedroom apartment, and a national honour, citing her as a symbol of excellence in education and youth development. He also recommended a national reward for her English teacher, akin to what technical teams in sports receive.
“Her victory is a testament to her talent, dedication, and the support from her family and teachers. If we truly value education, we must celebrate and reward academic brilliance just as we do with sports,” Pantami stated.
He stressed that education is the bedrock of national development, describing it as the "passport to future development" and urged policymakers to prioritise investment and recognition in academic achievements.
“Let’s invite our daughter — the daughter of all Nigerians — and her English teacher to the Presidency. What is good for the goose is good for the gander,” he concluded.
Nafisa Aminu’s triumph continues to inspire students across Nigeria and beyond, reigniting conversations around education as a national priority and the need to elevate its heroes with equal fanfare.
