Presidency Defends Falcons’ Reward, Cites BBNaija ₦150m Prize

The Presidency has defended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s $100,000 financial reward to the victorious Super Falcons, stressing that excellence, hard work, and national pride deserve recognition.

Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, made the remarks on his X handle, responding to critics who questioned the size of the reward package announced for the 10-time Women’s Africa Cup of Nations champions.

Onanuga noted that it was ironic for some Nigerians to celebrate the ₦150 million grand prize offered to the winner of the Big Brother Naija reality show by organisers, Multichoice, yet turn around to fault the President for honouring the Super Falcons’ extraordinary achievement on the global stage.

“When you remember that Multichoice, the organiser of BBNaija, is offering the winner ₦150 million, you wonder why some Nigerians are unappreciative of President Tinubu’s rewards to the Super Falcons,” Onanuga wrote.

He described the President’s gesture as a deliberate effort to “reward excellence, creativity, hard work, soccer artistry and the undying Nigerian spirit” embodied by the Falcons, who recently lifted their 10th WAFCON title in Morocco.

“President Tinubu has rewarded excellence, creativity, hard work, soccer artistry and the undying Nigerian spirit,” he said.

The Presidency’s defence comes after mixed reactions on social media, where some users praised the reward as a worthy investment in national pride, while others questioned whether the funds could have been better deployed.

The Super Falcons, led by Captain Rasheedat Ajibade, secured their latest continental title after a dramatic 3–2 victory over hosts Morocco on Saturday, cementing their status as Africa’s most successful women’s football team.