The Federal Government has rewarded D’Tigress, Nigeria’s female basketball team, with Order of the Niger (OON) national honours, with each of the players getting $100,000 and a flat.
Members of the Coach Rena Makama-led technical team also got $50,000 each.
This was announced when President Bola Tinubu hosted the team to a welcome reception on Monday, August 5, 2025, following the team’s unprecedented fifth consecutive AfroBasketWomen victory.
At the reception in Abuja, the president was represented by his wife, Senator Remi Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima.
Speaking during the reception ceremony, the Vice President while receiving 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 Shehu Dikko.
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.”
Last week, the President conferred similar national honours and gifts on the Super Falcons for winning Nigeria’s 10th title of the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations tournament in Morocco.
It would be recalled that the final on Sunday, Nigeria edged out Mali 78-64 in a tense showdown, displaying resilience and composure to claim their seventh AfroBasket title.
They have dominated African women’s basketball, winning their 29th consecutive game without a single loss since 2015.
As with most of their early games in the tournament, Nigeria got off to a slow start.
