Nigeria’s Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, has stated that the cash awards given to Nigerian winners of the TeenEagle 2024/2025 Global Competition were funded from his personal resources, not the federal government.
The clarification followed online criticism after it emerged that each of the champions received ₦200,000 (£105). Many Nigerians on social media described the sum as too small compared with the rewards given to footballers and basketball players.
The ministry said in a statement that the gifts were “personal tokens” from Dr Alausa, presented during a recognition event in Abuja.
Three Nigerian teenagers – Nafisa Abdullahi Aminu, Rukayya Muhammad Fema and Hadiza Kashim Kalli – defeated thousands of competitors worldwide to win the English-language contest held in the United Kingdom. The statement stressed that no federal government funds were used for the prizes.
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