By Our Correspondent

In an extraordinary display of brilliance and linguistic mastery, 17-year-old Nafisa Abdullah Aminu from Yobe State has stunned the world by emerging as the best English language performer globally at the 2025 TeenEagle Global Finals in London, United Kingdom.

Nafisa, a student of Nigerian Tulip International College (NTIC), Yobe, outshone over 20,000 students from 69 countries, including native English-speaking nations like the United Kingdom, United States, Canada, and Australia. Her outstanding achievement is now sparking national debate and a growing demand for official recognition by the Nigerian government.

A National Treasure Deserving National Honour

Nafisa’s triumph is a testament to what is possible when talent meets opportunity, discipline, and the right support system. Her success has stirred a wave of pride among Nigerians and reignited conversations around the value of education in shaping the nation’s future.

Many Nigerians are now calling on the federal government to reward Nafisa with $100,000, a three-bedroom flat, and a national honour, preferably the Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON) — a recognition previously given to athletes following major international victories.

This sentiment mirrors what happened earlier this year when the Super Falcons, Nigeria’s women’s football team, were rewarded with $100,000, a flat each, and national honours following their historic win at the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco. Similarly, the D’Tigress, Nigeria’s national women’s basketball team, received significant rewards after clinching their fifth consecutive AfroBasket title and qualifying for the 2026 FIBA Women’s World Cup Pre-Qualifying Tournament.

“What Is Good for the Goose Is Good for the Gander”

Educational advocates, civil society leaders, and citizens alike argue that academic excellence should be celebrated on the same level as sports victories. “If our athletes can be honoured for lifting the nation’s name high, then so should a young student who conquered the world using the English language — a global skill,” one education activist said.

They are also urging the federal government to invite Nafisa and her English teacher to the State House, recognising both their efforts, similar to how coaching crews are celebrated in the sporting world.

Education as the Passport to the Future

Nafisa’s victory sends a clear message — that with the right environment, Nigerian students can compete and win on the global stage. Her success is not just personal; it is symbolic of what Nigeria stands to gain if it invests seriously in its educational sector.

“Education is the passport to the future, and tomorrow belongs to those who prepare for it today,” one passionate supporter said. “We must reward our best minds just as we do with our best athletes. Nafisa has done what many believed was impossible.”

As calls grow louder, all eyes are now on the Presidency and the Ministry of Education. Will the nation honour a girl who has become a symbol of hope, excellence, and Nigeria’s potential on the world stage?

For now, Nigerians continue to beam with pride and hope that the government will do the needful — because truly, Nafisa deserves it all.