Matilda Omonaiye/
President Bola Tinubu has honoured Nigeria’s women’s national basketball team, D’Tigress, with national awards, cash gifts, and housing allocations following their historic fifth consecutive victory at the 2025 FIBA Women’s AfroBasket Championship.
At a presidential reception held on Monday at the State House, Tinubu, represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima, conferred on each player and member of the technical crew the national honour of Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON). He also approved the allocation of one housing unit each to the team, along with cash awards of $100,000 per player and $50,000 each for the coach and technical crew members.
Praising the team for becoming the first African side to qualify for the 2026 FIBA Women’s World Cup Pre-Qualifying Tournament, President Tinubu hailed their 78-64 triumph over Mali as “a powerful statement of Nigerian resilience, tactical excellence, and national pride.”
“You fought back from behind in the first quarter, not with panic but poise. You wore the green and white not just as colours, but as symbols of conviction and hope. Now, you wear the crown as queens of African basketball for the fifth consecutive time,” he said.
Tinubu lauded Coach Rena Wakama, describing her leadership as transformative:
“Your quiet strength and historic achievements have shattered ceilings and inspired countless young girls nationwide. Indeed, you deserved your award as the best coach in Africa and the world.”
He also applauded tournament MVP Amy Okonkwo and finals top scorer Ezinne Kalu, saying their brilliance “elevated the entire team.”
Reflecting on Nigerian women’s contributions to sports, Tinubu said:
“From the Super Falcons standing tall on the world stage to D’Tigress building a basketball dynasty, our women have consistently made us proud. They show that when opportunity meets preparation, Nigerian excellence is inevitable.”
Reaffirming his administration’s commitment to sports development, Tinubu said: “Sport is not merely entertainment. It is infrastructure, education, diplomacy, and a powerful tool for youth employment, economic transformation, and global engagement.”
He commended the National Sports Commission, led by Malam Shehu Dikko, and the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF), chaired by Malam Amadu Muda Kida, for their role in the team’s success.
First Lady Senator Oluremi Tinubu also praised D’Tigress, calling their triumph “a resounding statement of hard work, excellence, and national pride” and a source of inspiration for Nigerian girls and women.
Team captain and MVP, Amy Okonkwo, thanked the President and First Lady for their support:
“We are honoured to represent Nigeria and inspire young girls worldwide to embrace sports and believe in their dreams,” she said.
The victory comes barely a week after the Super Falcons lifted the 2024 WAFCON trophy, underscoring the dominance of Nigerian women in global sports.
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