In a celebratory move following their historic fifth consecutive AfroBasket title, President Bola Tinubu has rewarded Nigeria’s national women’s basketball team, D’Tigress, with national honours, cash prizes, and housing gifts.
At a presidential reception held Monday at the State House in Abuja, and represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima, President Tinubu conferred the national honour of Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON) on each player, coach, and member of the technical crew.
He further approved the allocation of a flat to every member of the team and directed the payment of the naira equivalent of $100,000 to each player and $50,000 to each member of the coaching and technical staff.
The recognition comes on the heels of the team’s resounding 78-64 victory over Mali in the final of the 2025 FIBA Women’s AfroBasket Championship, cementing their dominance in African basketball and earning them a spot in the 2026 FIBA Women’s World Cup Pre-Qualifying Tournament—the first African team to do so.
President Tinubu, in his remarks, lauded the players’ resilience, tactical brilliance, and patriotism.
“You have conquered Africa and opened the door to global greatness,” the President said. “You wore the green and white not just as colours, but as a symbol of conviction and hope. Now, you wear the crown as queens of African basketball for the fifth consecutive time.”
He reserved special praise for Head Coach Rena Wakama, describing her as a symbol of transformative leadership in Nigerian sports.
“Your quiet strength and historic achievements have shattered ceilings and inspired countless young girls nationwide,” Tinubu said. “Indeed, you deserved your award as the best coach in Africa and the world.”
Individual players Amy Okonkwo, the tournament’s Most Valuable Player (MVP), and top scorer in the final, Ezinne Kalu, were also singled out for their exceptional performances.
The President used the occasion to reaffirm his administration’s commitment to sports as a vital component of national development.
“Sport is not merely entertainment. It is infrastructure, education, diplomacy, and a powerful tool for youth employment, economic transformation, and global engagement,” he noted.
Tinubu commended the National Sports Commission led by Malam Shehu Dikko for its reform-focused approach, and the Nigeria Basketball Federation chaired by Malam Amadu Muda Kida for its strategic planning and consistency.
First Lady Senator Oluremi Tinubu also celebrated the D’Tigress achievement, describing it as a “resounding statement of hard work, excellence, and national pride,” especially coming just days after the Super Falcons clinched the WAFCON 2024 title in Morocco.
“This is another reason to believe in the power of Nigerian women to break barriers and set new records,” she said.
In her response, team captain Amy Okonkwo expressed gratitude to the President and First Lady for supporting young Nigerian women, saying the team was proud to inspire girls across the country and the world through sports.
The event was attended by top government officials, members of the sports community, and well-wishers.