The Nigerian Presidency has defended President Bola Tinubu’s decision to reward the Super Falcons, the country’s women’s national football team, with $100,000 each for their victory at the 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) in Morocco.
Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, made this known in a post on his X handle.
Each player received $100,000, while coaches and support staff members got $50,000
The team members were also conferred with the national honor of Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON)
Additionally, each member of the team will receive a three-bedroom apartment under the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Housing Scheme
Onanuga defended the reward package by comparing it to the N150 million grand prize offered to the winner of the Big Brother Naija (BBNaija) reality show.
He expressed surprise that some Nigerians were unappreciative of the President’s gesture, questioning why they wouldn’t support rewards for excellence, creativity, hard work, and national pride.
The Presidency’s defense has sparked mixed reactions on social media, with some users praising the President’s gesture and others criticizing it.
Some argue that the reward is excessive, while others believe it’s a well-deserved recognition of the team’s achievement.
Some users questioned whether the reward amount was too high, considering the country’s economic challenges and other pressing needs.
Others argued that comparing the reward to BBNaija’s prize money was misplaced, as one is a private initiative and the other a national achievement.
Some users also questioned why the reward was given in dollars instead of naira, citing concerns about promoting foreign currency.
Despite the criticisms, some users have expressed support for the President’s gesture, praising the team for their achievement and the President for recognizing their hard work.
They argue that the reward is a well-deserved recognition of the team’s excellence and a motivation for future generations of athletes.
The Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, on Tuesday defended the reward package given to the Super Falcons following their victory at the 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) in Morocco.
Onanuga, in a post on his X handle, expressed surprise at the criticism from some Nigerians over the presidential rewards, questioning why the gesture was being met with disapproval.
“When you remember that Multichoice, the organizer of the BBNaija reality show, is offering the winner ₦150 million grand prize, you wonder why some Nigerians are unappreciative of President Tinubu’s rewards to the Super Falcons,” Onanuga wrote. “President Tinubu has rewarded excellence, creativity, hard work, soccer artistry, and the undying Nigerian spirit.”