Players and officials of Nigeria’s Senior Women’s Basketball team, D’Tigress, have expressed profound gratitude to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, following the successful disbursement of the financial rewards promised for their continental triumph at the FIBA Women’s AfroBasket championship.
The payments represent the fulfilment of the Presidential Rewards announced to honour the team’s historic victory.
The disbursement followed a recent meeting between the Chairman of the National Sports Commission (NSC),Shehu Dikko, and Minister of Finance and Co-ordinating Minister of the Economy, Taiwo Oyedele, to finalize arrangements for all outstanding sports rewards.
Within three days of concluding the administrative process, members of both D’Tigress and the Super Falcons received their full financial packages directly into their bank accounts.
Speaking on behalf of the team, D’Tigress captain Amy Okonkwo commended President Tinubu, describing him as a father figure deeply committed to athlete welfare and sports development in Nigeria.
‘On behalf of the entire D’Tigress team, I want to specially thank President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, for this show of love and support,’ Okonkwo stated. ‘We are truly grateful for everything he has done to ensure we receive all that was promised to us after winning the AfroBasket championship.’
She added: ‘This is an unprecedented gesture from Mr. President. We have received the promised housing units, national honours, and now the full financial rewards in our accounts. This proves that Nigerian sports administration is undergoing a major positive shift and that we have a genuinely sports-loving President.’
Okonkwo also extended appreciation to the First Lady, the leadership of the National Sports Commission-specifically Chairman Mallam Shehu Dikko and Director General Hon. Bukola Olopade-as well as the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBF) led by Engr. Musa Kida.
D’Tigress remains the undisputed powerhouse of African women’s basketball, holding a historic five consecutive FIBA Women’s AfroBasket titles and seven continental trophies overall.
Their latest championship victory in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, where they defeated Mali 78-64 in the final, extended Nigeria’s unbeaten streak in the tournament to 29 games-a record unequalled in African basketball history.