Parents, school, politicians, businessmen and scholars have celebrated the outstanding achievement of three brilliant young students from Yobe State: Nafisa Abdullahi Aminu, Rukayya Muhammad Fema, and Hadiza Kashim Kalli. They brought honour to Nigeria at the TeenEagle Global English Championship held in London.
Nafisa Abdullah, a 17-year-old student from Yobe State, made history by emerging as the world’s best in English at the prestigious 2025 TeenEagle English Language Skills Competition held in London, United Kingdom.
Competing against over 20,000 participants from 69 countries, Nafisa clinched the top spot at the UK Global Finals, outperforming peers from English-speaking nations and other global contenders.
Her remarkable achievement has sparked pride across Nigeria, especially in her home state of Yobe.
Representing Nigeria through the Nigerian Tulip International College (NTIC), Yobe State, her success is celebrated as a product of her dedication, access to quality education and the enabling environment created by the state’s leadership.
Responding, her father, Alhaji Yusuf Umar, Commissioner of Religious and Ethnic Reintegration in Yobe State, said, “My heart swelled with pride and gratitude as I celebrated my daughter.”
He described the milestone as the end of one chapter and the beginning of a new path filled with endless possibilities, dreams, and opportunities.
He added, “We pray that my daughter will be celebrated and recognised with a national honour, as she made Nigeria proud by achieving significant success and defeating all European native English speakers.”
Yusuf Umar also commended the NTIC management and teaching staff for their vital role in shaping Abdullah’s academic journey.
He described this milestone as a source of pride for Yobe State and Nigeria. It stands as a powerful reminder of what is possible when talent meets opportunity, and it inspires countless other young Nigerians to aim higher through education and perseverance.
Her triumph, particularly in a field dominated by native English-speaking countries, is a powerful testament to what Nigerian youths can achieve when given the right opportunities and support.
He said their success reflects the growing impact of continued investments in education under the visionary leadership of His Excellency, Governor Mai Mala Buni, whose commitment to creating an enabling learning environment yields exceptional results.
In another development, the second Yobe winner, 15-year-old Ruqayya Muhammad, said it wasn’t easy to compete with students from 69 countries, but consistency, dedication, and hard work kept her going.
According to her success derived from training, she receives from her strong mother, Hajiya Fatima Umar Mairiga, who raised her after 12 years of her father’s demise.
She attributed her victory to her dedicated teachers, who often educated and guided them in their studies.
Her mother, Hajiya Fatima Umar Mairiga, revealed that she had never doubted Ruqayya’s capacity for every task, including this competition.
She said, “Ever since I knew she would be part of this competition, I had never relented in my prayers until she achieved the overall best in debate, Alhamdulillah.
“I am very proud of her academically because I knew what she would do. She memorised the 60 Hizb of the Quran. She always wins either first or second place in school, so her victory didn’t come.
“I want to first of all, thank Almighty Allah for sparing our lives to witness this joyous moment, my special appreciation goes to their Excellencies, the former and current Governors of Yobe State, Sen Ibrahim Geidam and Hon Dr Mai Mala Buni CON, for their unrelenting support toward the education of this orphan and brilliant girl Rukayya”
Also speaking was Rukayya’s uncle, Alhaji Sani Fema, who noted that he was very excited that a daughter of his late brother made the state and her country proud in the eyes of the international community.
He appreciated that His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Yobe State, Hon Dr Mai Mala Buni, pledged to honour them, pleading with the Federal government under President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR to award them in special ways.
Also, Hadiza Kalli Kashim, the brilliant daughter of Alhaji Kashim Kalli, Permanent Secretary, Protocol, Government House, emerged victorious at the prestigious 2025 TeenEagle Global Finals held in London, United Kingdom.
She was honoured with the Outstanding Talent Award (Gold Medal), a prestigious recognition reserved for exceptional young minds who demonstrate excellence, creativity, and leadership on the global stage.
With Hadiza’s victory, the number of champions from Yobe State rises to three, joining Nafisa Abdullah, crowned Overall World Best in English Language Skills, and Rukayya Muhammad Fema, winner of the World Best in Debate.
This trio of remarkable young girls has made their families and state proud and showcased the incredible potential in Yobe’s youth when empowered through quality education and a supportive environment.
Their collective success is a strong testament to the growing impact of Governor Mai Mala Buni’s investment in education and youth development.
In a letter from the (NTIC) which was made available to Leadership in Damaturu, disclosed that, with over 900 participants from 46 Countries taking part in this years TeenEagle Competition from the Online round to the Global Final 2 held between 27th July and 3st August at the University of Surrey, UK, our NTIC students have once again made us incredibly proud” said school Authority.
The Competition began with an online round, leading to the prestigious global stage. Eight students, five from NTIC Abuja and three from NTIC Yobe, represented Nigeria. They were accompanied by one parent, a teacher, NTIC Abuja’s principal, and NTIC Yobe’s principal.
According to a letter, our students competed across a range of outstanding tasks that tested receptive (reading and listening) and productive (writing and speaking) skills, and their performance was excellent.
The letter described the Medals: 7 gold, 4 Silver, and three bronze. Overall ranking: TeenEagle 3. Nafisas Abdullah Aminu from NTIC Yobe is a girl. TeenEagle 2. Oluwasemilore Samuelle Akinyemi from NTIC, Abuja, and TeenEagle 3. Cara Victor Antai from NTIC, Abuja (not as earlier mentioned).
Others are best in debate, such as Rukayya Mohammed, a female from NTIC, Yobe, and best in spelling bee—Jayden Kwalmi and Hadiza Kashim Kalli (Gold Medal), outstanding.
The impressive thing about the story of these brilliant girls, Nafisa, Rukayya, and Hadiza, is that their teacher, Adam A. Muktar, is also from Yobe and a product of the NTIC Yobe Scholarship.
The English teacher and Head of Department (HOD) of English at NTIC Yobe State, a brilliant mind who trained the exceptional Yobe girls who dazzled the world at the 2025 TeenEagle Global Championship in London.
Who mentored Nafisa Abdullahi and Rukayya Muhammad Fema, the global English Language Skills and Debate champions? This dedicated educator, Mallam Adamu Mukhtar, once benefited from a Yobe State Government scholarship.
Also, one of the graduating students, who doesn’t want his name to be printed, commended Yobe State governor Late Senator Mamman B. Ali and Senator Ibrahim Gaidam for their visionary initiative and the enduring legacy they left in the education sector of Yobe State.
I was a proud beneficiary of the Late Mamman B. Ali Scholarship Program. The selection process involved four examinations conducted by Turkish colleges, followed by another round of tests and a screening exercise in Abuja.
He added, “Everything was based on merit, with no connections or follow-up needed. After the final screening, I was awarded a full scholarship, including monthly allowances. The Yobe State Government even provided buses (Coasters) to transport us to Abuja.
During the programme, the late Governor Mamman B. Ali informed us that he had secured an agreement with Surat Education (Turkish) to establish a branch in Yobe State. His vision was for us, the scholarship recipients, to return after completing our studies and take over the school’s operations, eventually expanding it across the state. Unfortunately, he passed away before we graduated. May his soul rest in peace (Amin).
Adamu A. Mukhtar (Headboy), the English head teacher of Nafisa and Rukayya, is also a beneficiary of the Mamman B. Ali Scholarship. During the program in Abuja, he served as our chief imam. He is a dedicated individual who always encourages his colleagues to be self-determined and to make the most of the opportunity.
In his congratulatory message, Senator Musa Mustapha, representing Yobe East Senatorial District, has joined well-meaning Nigerians in celebrating the outstanding performance of three young students from Yobe State who emerged victorious at the 2025 TeenEagle Global Finals.
He described their triumph as a “clear testament” to the growing impact of Governor Mai Mala Buni’s investment in the education sector.
“These brilliant young minds have once again proven that education lives at the core of Yobe’s most cherished aspirations,” the Senator stated.
He also commended Governor Buni and his team for creating an enabling environment that nurtures excellence. He added that this global recognition affirms the state’s steady rise in human capital development through strategic educational investments.
In a similar congratulatory message, the Commissioner of the Yobe State Ministry of Women Affairs, Hon Hajiya Ya Jalo Badama, has extended heartfelt congratulations to Nafisa, Rukayya, and Hadiza, Students of Nigerian Tulip International College (NTIC), Yobe State, for their outstanding achievement as the World’s Best in English at the 2025 Teen Eagle Global Finals held in London.
This remarkable feat highlights the academic excellence of Yobe’s youth and positions the state as a hub of intellectual prowess on the global stage.
According to her, this achievement is a testament to Yobe State’s progressive strides in education and youth empowerment, setting a benchmark for other states to emulate.
She said Governor Buni has created an enabling environment for students to excel, reaffirming his administration’s dedication to human capital development.
Tinubu Congratulates Nafisa, Rukayya, Hadiza on Global Education Triumph
President Bola Tinubu has congratulated Nafisa Abdullahi Aminu, Rukayya Muhammad Fema, and Hadiza Kashim Kalli on emerging world champions in English language communication skills and debate at the 2025 TeenEagle Global competition in London, United Kingdom.
Seventeen-year-old Nafisa was named the overall best in English language skills; 15-year-old Rukayya emerged as the overall best in debate, while Hadiza clinched the outstanding talent award (gold medal).
In a statement by his spokesman, Bayo Onanuga, President Tinubu commended these exceptional young Nigerians for the feat and affirmed that the nation’s future is much brighter with many of its youth as repositories of excellence.
The President also commended the institutions of learning and stated that these accomplishments are a testament to the quality and potential of Nigeria’s education system as a nurturer of some of the world’s brightest minds.
President Tinubu believes education is a critical element for national development; hence, his administration has made significant investments in the sector and removed financial barriers for indigent Nigerians seeking higher education through the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND).
The President encouraged Nafisa, Rukayya, and Hadiza to remain steadfast in their studies and wished them continued success.
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