By Mercy Gadia Adi
The Federal Government has celebrated Nigerian students who emerged global champions at the 2025 TeenEagle English Competition in London, describing their victory as a triumph of resilience, talent, and the power of education.
At a ceremony in Abuja, the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, presented cash awards to the winners, led by 17-year-old Nafisa Abdullahi Aminu of Yobe State, who was crowned World’s Best in English Language Skills.
Nafisa received a cheque of ₦200,000, while other winners were awarded between ₦100,000 and ₦150,000 for their excellence in debate, spelling bee, productive skills, and talent presentations.
Dr. Alausa praised the champions for placing Nigeria and Africa firmly on the global map of academic excellence.
“We are proud of what our children have achieved. This victory proves that with the right support, Nigerian students can compete with the best in the world,” the minister said.
He lauded Yobe State Governor, Mai Mala Buni, for rebuilding the state’s education system after years of insurgency, urging other state leaders to emulate his example.
The Minister assured that the Federal Government would continue to expand scholarships, mentorship programmes, and access to quality learning resources to nurture future champions.
In her remarks, Minister of State for Education, Professor Swaiba Said Ahmad, hailed the achievement as a “national victory.”
“The success of these young people demonstrates Nigeria’s capacity to excel on global platforms when given the right support. It aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda to reposition education for excellence,” she said.
Yobe State Commissioner for Basic Education, Prof. Abba Adam, described the victory as “a symbol of resilience and a milestone in the state’s journey of rebuilding,” highlighting recent investments in infrastructure, teacher recruitment, school feeding, and scholarships.
Speaking with emotion, Nafisa expressed gratitude to her parents, teachers, and government.
“I dedicate this award to the resilience of Yobe State’s education system. My project, English Language for Peace and Development, will promote literacy, dialogue, and social cohesion among young people,” she said.
Other Nigerian winners at the competition include Oluwasemilore Samuelle Akinyemi (Overall 1st Place Winner in TeenEagle 2), Cara Victor Antai (3rd Place and Silver Medalist in Spelling Bee), and Jayden Kwalmi (Best in Spelling Bee and Most Outstanding Talent). Also recognised were Rukayya Muhammad, Hadiza Kashim Kalli, Mansata Njai, and Fatim B. Njai, who excelled in various categories.
The event was attended by senior officials of the Federal Ministry of Education and representatives of the Yobe State Ministry of Education.
Reaffirming its commitment, the Federal Ministry of Education said it would “continue to nurture the talents of Nigerian children and ensure every learner is equipped to shine on the global stage.”