ABUJA — PRESIDENT Bola Tinubu on Monday, gifted the Nigeria’s senior national women’s basketball team, D’Tigress $100,000 to each of the players, $50,000 each for the 11-man coaching and technical team, and bedroom flats at Renewed Hope Estate for every member of the team and coaching staff.
Besides, the President conferred on the players and technical crew the prestigious national honor of Officer, Order of the Niger (OON).
The recognition of D’Tigress followed a similar state reception President Tinubu hosted last week for the Super Falcons, after their record-extending tenth Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) victory in Rabat, Morocco.
The team clinched their fifth consecutive AfroBasket title—and seventh overall—by defeating Mali 78–64 in the final played at the Palais des Sports de Treichville in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire.
The remarkable win reaffirmed their dominance in African women’s basketball and continued an unbroken winning streak that began in 2017.
The Vice President, Senator Kashim Shettima announced the presidential rewards on Monday evening during a special reception held in their honour at the State House Banquet Hall, Abuja.
In addition to the players, members of the coaching and technical crew were each awarded $50,000, a three-bedroom flat, and conferred with the OON national honour.
First Lady Oluremi Tinubu and the Wife of the Vice President, Hajiya Nana Shettima, as well as the Chief of Staff to the President, Hon Femi Gbajabiamila, joined the Vice President to warmly receive the D’Tigresses on behalf of the President.
Speaking during the reception ceremony, the Vice President received the champions, describing their victory as a shining example of the nation’s talent, resilience, and unity.
He hailed the victorious team saying: “You have brought great pride to Nigeria. Your excellence on the court has once again put our nation on the global map for sporting greatness.”
The Vice President praised the team’s resilience and spirit in the face of challenges, noting, “My dear daughters, you fought back from behind in the past quarter, not with panic, but with poise. You wore the green and white not just as clothes, but as a symbol of unity—and now you wear the crown as kings of African basketball for the fifth consecutive time.”
He singled out Coach Rena Wakama for her inspirational leadership. “You represent the evolution of leadership in Nigerian sports,” Shettima said. “Your quiet strength and historic achievements have shattered ceilings and inspired countless young girls nationwide who now know that no dream is too bold for a Nigerian woman. You indeed deserve your award as the best coach in Africa and the world.”
Highlighting individual brilliance within the team, he applauded Amy Okonkwo and Ezinne Kalu.
“To Amy Okonkwo, the tournament’s Most Valuable Player, and Ezinne Kalu, the top scorer in the final, you have elevated the entire team. Most importantly, you did not play for yourselves; you played for and won with Nigeria.”
Reflecting on the broader significance of Nigerian women in sports, Shettima stated, “Nigerian women have never failed the nation in sports. From the Super Falcons dominating on the world stage, to our record-breaking athletes on the track, and now building a basketball dynasty, our women have consistently made us proud. They have shown the world that when opportunity meets preparation, Nigerian excellence is inevitable.”
He further emphasized the administration’s commitment to sports development, declaring, “We owe you not just applause, but decisive action. That is why under this government, we are repositioning sports as a key pillar of our national development strategy and economic drive. Sports is not merely entertainment. It is infrastructure, it is education, it is diplomacy. It is a powerful tool for youth employment, economic transformation, and global engagement.”
Shettima extended gratitude to the National Sports Commission and the Nigerian Basketball Federation for their tireless efforts. “On behalf of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, I want to extend special appreciation to the National Sports Commission under the leadership of Mallam Alabi. Their renewed focus on athlete welfare, institutional reform, grassroots support, and performance-based development is already yielding results.”
He also commended Malam Ahmadu Musa Kida, chairman of the Nigerian Basketball Federation and the NNPC Limited, for his dedication, noting, “Malam Musa is personally known to me, and I have witnessed the personal resources he has invested in developing basketball in this great nation.”
Concluding with an inspiring message to Nigerian youth, Shettima said, “To all young people watching today, let the story of the Tigress remind you that greatness is a product of hard work, discipline, and belief. Nigeria belongs to those who dare to dream and are willing to give their best to make those dreams a reality.”
He announced national honors and monetary rewards on behalf of President Tinubu: “National honors will be awarded to the team, coach, and technical staff. Each player will receive $100,000, and the coach and technical team will receive $50,000.”
“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has shown leadership by recognizing and rewarding our daughters who have excelled on the continental stage.”
First Lady Oluremi Tinubu speaking at the reception, expressed “a deep sense of pride and joy” in the team’s remarkable achievement. “This victory is not just a win on the court,” she said, “it is a resounding statement of hard work, excellence, and national pride. This is a moment that will forever inspire generations of Nigerian girls and women to dream big, boldly, and pursue greatness.”
The First Lady highlighted the core values behind their success, emphasizing, “It is a clear indication that hard work and teamwork is what it takes to succeed.”
She praised the players not only as athletes but as “ambassadors of sports of a great nation,” noting the significance of their victory coming at a time when Nigeria is already celebrating sporting excellence. “Your victory comes at a time when Nigeria is basking in the glory of sporting excellence following the Super Falcons’ recent victory. We haven’t really gotten over that, and then this one. We are so glad to be able to celebrate you as well.”
Mrs Tinubu congratulated the entire team and the technical staff, saying, “I say well done to you all, to the technical team, including Coach Rena Wakama. Your leadership and tutelage have paid off.”
She commended the players broadly: “To all our remarkable players, your performance is highly commendable. You embody courage and commitment. I pray your journey in life continues to be filled with success and light on the path for many more victories to come. Once again, I say congratulations.”
Sharing an inspiring personal story, the First Lady spotlighted one of the players, Dr. Sarah Goke, “a full-time surgeon who got certified last year and also had a baby last year.” She fondly recalled, “And that’s the baby I know.”
First Lady recalled a previous encounter with the team during their visit last year, saying, “When we hosted you last year, myself and the wife of the Vice President, you were such a very adorable team.” She emphasized the progress since then, “You showed up then, and that gave you a seat at the table before Mr. President this time around. So I’m so happy and glad that you are here.”
She offered a heartfelt blessing: “God bless you, the wonderful D’Tigress National Basketball Team. God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Welcome home.”
Amy Okonkwo, the Most Valuable Player of Nigeria’s Women’s National Basketball Team, D’Tigress, expressed profound gratitude and pride during the team’s reception at the State House, Abuja.
Speaking on behalf of the team, Okonkwo said, “Mr. President, represented by the Vice President, our dear mother. I just want to say, on behalf of the D’Tigress, that we are so, so, so, so thankful to be here today.”
She emphasized the honour of representing Nigeria and continuing their legacy of excellence, saying, “I’m thankful that we get to represent our country. We’re thankful to be able to continue our excellence and support the gift that God gave us.”
Okonkwo highlighted the significance of the moment, adding, “It means the world to us to be able to be hosted here today and to be able to represent our country in this way, to bring back another championship, to be able to inspire young women, young girls around the world, that they can one day choose.”
In a message of appreciation to the support team and leadership, she said, “We thank you all for your support and your continuing support in lifting us higher, because I don’t think the sky is our limit. I think we can go beyond and we can break barriers.”
Chairman of National Sports Commission, Shehu Dikko, showered praise on the national women’s basketball team, D’Tigress, following their remarkable victory at the 2025 FIBA Women’s AfroBasket Championship. He described their win as a milestone not only for basketball but for women’s sport across the nation.
“I stood here last Monday with pride and profound joy to celebrate yet another glorious chapter in the history of Nigerian sports, courtesy of our exceptional women’s football team, Super Falcons Dikko began and emphasised how D’Tigress’ latest triumph had further elevated Nigeria’s sporting prestige.
“Today we return with D’Tigress, our incredible women’s national basketball team, who just clinched their fifth consecutive and seventh overall FIBA Women’s AfroBasket title, following a dominant 78–64 victory over Mali in Abidjan yesterday (Sunday night). Indeed, this is a remarkable and defining moment for Nigerian sports, and even more so for Nigerian women in sports.”
Dikko highlighted the significance of D’Tigress’ achievement, noting: “Sunday’s victory was significant, not only for the title itself, but for what it represents. With this latest triumph, Nigeria has become the first African team to qualify for the 2026 FIBA Women’s World Cup. We have also extended our astonishing 29-game unbeaten streak in AfroBasket – an era of excellence unmatched in the history of African basketball.”
He credited the team’s success to collective effort and outstanding leadership, singling out Head Coach Rena Wakama. “Credit must go to the players and coaching staff, especially Coach Rena Wakama, whose leadership has rewritten the script for women in coaching across Africa,” Dikko stated. “Her historic back-to-back championship wins in 2023 and now 2025 are setting the pace and shattering glass ceilings – her emergence at the last Olympics as head coach gives credence to what proper and structured domestic development can deliver.”
Dikko also commended individual players for their contributions: “We must also recognize Amy Okonkwo, named Most Valuable Player of the tournament, and Ezinne Kalu, whose top-scoring performances in the final sealed our dominance. But as you know, it is a collective team effort – everybody contributed their bit to get this done.”
Emphasizing the role of intentional investment and leadership, Dikko remarked, “These victories are not by chance. They are a product of intentional investment, leadership, and the resilience of our athletes in spite of any deficit. But as we celebrate this achievement, we are also keeping our eyes on the ball and planning for the future, so that this success is not just episodic but institutional.”
He noted Nigeria’s broader commitment to sports development, mentioning recent achievements such as hosting the Confederation of African Athletics U18 and U20 Championships in Abeokuta, participating in the African Youth Games in Algeria, and sending the national under-19 female basketball team to the World Cup in the Czech Republic.
“These are not isolated efforts,” Dikko reiterated. “They are part of a deliberate, structured strategy under Your Excellency to build a sustainable sports ecosystem that empowers youth, enhances our global competitiveness, and aligns with Nigeria’s broader developmental goals.”
He pledged continued reforms: “We are committed to deepening the reforms, strengthening institutions, and unlocking the immense potential of our sports sector. Every young boy or girl in Nigeria deserves a fair shot at becoming the next Ezinne Kalu, Asisat Oshoala, Tobi Amusan, or Victor Osimhen.”
Concluding, Dikko expressed gratitude to President Tinubu, First Lady Senator Oluremi Tinubu, female ministers, and all supporters: “Thank you. You have inspired a nation and made us proud. You have, once again, reminded us that greatness is not given – it is earned through hard work, belief, and unity.” He also thanked the Nigeria Basketball Federation and private partners who quietly support the teams.
Dikko ended on a hopeful note: “In the next two weeks, the national men’s basketball team, D’Tigers, will commence their own AfroBasket championship in Angola. We hope to present them to you after the tournament with another trophy.”
On behalf of President Tinubu, the VP received the team in recognition of their outstanding achievement. Also in attendance at the reception were Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila; Chairman of the Senate Committee on Youths and Sports Development, Garba Maidoki; and Chairman of the House Committee on Sports, Kabiru Amadou, female ministers and other government functionaries.
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