By Emeka Blast 
Tinubu Gifts Each D’Tigress Player $100,000 and a House
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has announced an unprecedented reward package for Nigeria’s women’s national basketball team, D’Tigress, following their historic fifth consecutive victory at the 2025 FIBA Women’s AfroBasket Championship in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire. Each player will receive $100,000, a three-bedroom apartment in the Renewed Hope Housing Estate, and the prestigious Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON) national honour. The technical crew, led by Coach Rena Wakama, will each receive $50,000, a flat, and the OON honour, recognizing their role in securing a 78-64 win over Mali in the final on Sunday, August 3, 2025. The announcement, made during a grand reception at the Presidential Villa in Abuja on Monday, has sparked widespread reactions, with some praising Tinubu’s gesture and others questioning its timing amid economic challenges.
The D’Tigress, under Wakama’s leadership, clinched their seventh overall AfroBasket title, maintaining an unbeaten 29-game streak since 2015 and becoming the first African team to qualify for the 2026 FIBA Women’s World Cup Pre-Qualifying Tournament. Vice President Kashim Shettima, representing Tinubu at the State House Banquet Hall, hailed the team’s “resilience, tactical excellence, and national pride,” noting their comeback from a first-quarter deficit against Mali. “You wore the green and white with purpose, and now you wear the crown as queens of African basketball for the fifth consecutive time,” Shettima said, singling out tournament MVP Amy Okonkwo and top scorer Ezinne Kalu for their brilliance.
First Lady Senator Oluremi Tinubu, joined by Hajia Nana Shettima, emphasized the victory’s broader impact, stating, “This is not just a win on the court but a testament to hard work, excellence, and national pride. D’Tigress has given Nigerian girls another reason to believe in breaking barriers.” The reception, attended by dignitaries like Chief of Staff Femi Gbajabiamila and National Sports Commission Chairman Shehu Dikko, mirrored a similar event for the Super Falcons, who received identical rewards for their 2024 WAFCON victory in Morocco, prompting debates about consistency in rewarding national teams.
Social media reactions on X were mixed. @NaijaGist tweeted, “$100K, houses, and OON for D’Tigress? Tinubu is showing love to our queens! #AfroBasket2025,” while @TruthSeekerNG questioned, “Where’s this money coming from when Nigerians are struggling? Great for D’Tigress, but what about the economy?” @EagleEyeNG praised, “Amy Okonkwo and Rena Wakama are making history. Tinubu’s rewards are well-deserved!” Critics, like @TosinOlugbenga, called the cash awards extravagant, citing economic hardship where “some don’t earn $100K in a year in the U.S.”
The rewards highlight Tinubu’s push to position sports as a pillar of national development, with Shettima noting, “Sport is infrastructure, education, diplomacy, and a tool for youth employment.” The National Sports Commission’s focus on athlete welfare and grassroots development was credited for D’Tigress’ success, with the Nigerian Basketball Federation, led by Ahmadu Kida, also lauded. However, the lavish package follows controversy over similar rewards for the Super Falcons, raising questions about fiscal priorities amid 34.6% inflation and a projected N11.1 trillion debt servicing cost in 2026.
