The Federal Government has given cash rewards to the students who participated in the 2025 TeenEagle Global English Championship in London, United Kingdom (UK), for their exceptional performance.
The students, 17-year-old Nafisa Abdullahi Aminu, 15-year-old Rukayya Muhammad Fema, and Hadiza Kashim Kalli, all from Yobe State, represented Nigeria at the international competition. They emerged among the best in various categories, beating over 20,000 participants from 69 countries.
At a ceremony yesterday in Abuja, the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, announced a cash reward of N200,000 for Nafisa, the overall best in English language skills.
Rukayya and Hadiza got N100,000 each for emerging best in debate and winning a bronze in productive communication skills.
Applauding Yobe State Governor Mai Mala Buni for his strides in education, Alausa said the Federal Government would continue to celebrate students from all the other 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
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Alausa said: “We will continue to celebrate students from all the other 35 states of the federation, including the FCT. These students have made us proud.
“I also want to acknowledge His Excellency, the Governor of Yobe State, Governor Mai Mala Buni, whose emphasis on education made this possible.
“Thank you, Your Excellency, for everything you continue to do to prioritise education in Yobe. This should be an example for all the other governors, as well as the Minister of the FCT.”
The Yobe State Commissioner for Basic Education, Prof. Abba Idris, hailed the three teenage girls from the state, describing their victory as “a triumph of resilience and commitment to education”.
The commissioner, who spoke on behalf of Governor Buni, expressed gratitude to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Alausa for hosting the students and recognising Yobe State’s investment in education.
He said: “Your interest in the progress of education in Yobe State is quite encouraging.
“A few years back, our story was different and pathetic. Schools were destroyed, students and teachers killed, and education became unattractive. Today, we are celebrating victory.”
Idris outlined the measures taken by the Buni administration since declaring a state of emergency on education in 2019. These, he said, include rebuilding over 300 schools destroyed by insurgents, constructing 627 new classrooms and renovating 448 others, as well as employing and training thousands of teachers.