Super Falcons Deserve Every Naira, Presidency Declares, Using BBNaija’s ₦150m Payout as a Reference Point

 

The Nigerian presidency has issued a strong defense of President Bola Tinubu’s recent decision to reward the Super Falcons, Nigeria’s senior women’s national football team, with significant monetary gifts and national honors following their victory at the 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) held in Morocco.

Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, responded directly to public criticism of the financial reward by drawing an unexpected comparison to the grand prize awarded in the popular reality television show, Big Brother Naija (BBNaija).

Taking to his X (formerly Twitter) account on Tuesday, Onanuga questioned the backlash surrounding Tinubu’s generous gesture, stating that the Super Falcons' achievements on the football field merit the recognition and reward they are receiving.

While many Nigerians have praised the women for their dedication and triumph, others expressed concern over the large sums being given in a country facing pressing economic challenges. Onanuga countered these sentiments by referencing BBNaija, a commercial entertainment program, where the winner walks away with a ₦150 million prize, an amount comparable to the $100,000 being given to each Falcons player.

According to him, if a private entertainment company can justify such a large prize for a reality show winner, it should not seem unreasonable for the government to honor the country’s national athletes who have brought prestige and pride to Nigeria on the international stage.

“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.”

The presidential rewards package goes beyond cash prizes. Each of the 24 players on the team will receive $100,000, while members of the coaching and support staff will each take home $50,000. The government also conferred national honors on the entire team, elevating all players and 11 technical crew members to the rank of Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON), one of Nigeria’s most prestigious civilian honors.

Beyond financial compensation and honorary recognition, the athletes are also beneficiaries of a major housing initiative under the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Housing Scheme. Each player and team official is to receive a three-bedroom apartment, a move designed to offer long-term security and stability as a token of appreciation for their contribution to national pride.

These rewards have stirred public conversations across various social media platforms and news outlets. While supporters of the administration praise the gesture as well-deserved, some critics raise concerns over government spending and priorities in the current economic climate.

Still, for many Nigerians, especially women and youth advocates, the recognition marks a turning point in how female athletes are treated in comparison to their male counterparts. The consistent excellence of the Super Falcons on the African continent has often gone underappreciated, and this recent recognition is being seen as a step toward bridging that gap.

Some sports analysts also believe that this move by the presidency could boost morale in the nation’s sporting sector, especially among female teams that have historically been underfunded and under-acknowledged. The hope is that other ministries and stakeholders will begin to offer better support and incentives for excellence in sports beyond male-dominated disciplines.

Public figures and influencers have joined the conversation, with many echoing the sentiment that national heroes, whether on the football field or in other sectors, should be celebrated and rewarded.

The argument put forward by the presidency centers on a broader national narrative: recognizing hard work, excellence, and contribution to the image of Nigeria on the global stage. For President Tinubu’s administration, rewarding the Super Falcons aligns with the Renewed Hope Agenda, a promise to uplift all segments of society through visible, meaningful action.

Despite the mixed reactions, the celebration of the Super Falcons has sparked renewed attention to women’s sports in Nigeria and the need for continued investment in nurturing talent, building infrastructure, and ensuring equity in rewards and recognition.