President Bola Tinubu on Wednesday announced a ₦100 million Federal Government Savings Bond to each player on Nigeria’s victorious U-17 women’s football team, the Flamingos, after the historic triumph at the tournament’s maiden edition in Morocco.
The Flamingos defeated Japan to become the first African team to win the tournament.
Represented by his wife, First Lady Oluremi Tinubu, at an event organised to receive the champions, the president directed that the N100 million reward for each player should be issued as a savings certificate, with the money preserved for the young footballers in view of their age.
The bonds attract an annual interest rate of 14 per cent. The investment by the government for the players is for five years.
President Tinubu also announced a cash gift of ₦100 million for the coach and ₦50 million for each member of the technical crew.
The First Lady said the rewards were in fulfilment of Tinubu’s longstanding commitment to appropriately recognise Nigerian athletes who bring honour to the country.
”Before I conclude, let me recall Mr President’s promise to every Nigerian athlete: Make Nigeria proud and come back to a grateful nation.
”In fulfilment of this promise, it is my pleasure, on behalf of the President, to announce the following rewards for the players, technical crew and administrators of the Flamingos, whose collective efforts have brought honour and pride to our nation by winning the FIFA Under-17 Women’s World Cup.
”For all our players, Mr President is awarding you a savings certificate of N100 million each. Each of you is getting N100 million,” she said.
Explaining the arrangement to the teenage footballers, Mrs Tinubu said the money would be preserved for their future rather than placed immediately at their disposal.
”Do you know what a savings certificate is? It is money, but it is in trust for you. You are still very young. Do you want to start handling N100 million now?
”For the coach, a reward of N100 million cash, and then for the technical crew, N50 million each. That’s what Mr President said I should tell you,” she asked.
The First Lady expressed optimism that the presidential rewards would be the beginning of further recognition for the players, particularly from their respective state governments.
