An award or reward for excellence is a distinction given to an individual(s) or organization(s) who have demonstrated excellent performance, achievements, or contributions in a particular field. It represents great work and serves as an inspiration to others.
The reward can take several forms, including cash, certificates, trophies, prizes, house presents, honors etc, and the conditions or types vary depending on the situation and its size.
In sports, the culture of rewarding excellence is universally recognized and accepted as a tool for motivation, national pride, and reinforcement of hard work.
Similar to this, Nigeria has made it a practice to honor good athletes with generous compensation whenever necessary in recognition of their hard working performance.
Therefore, few weeks ago the victorious Super Falcons returned to Nigeria to a rousing welcome after clinching their 10th Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) title.
Nigerians were ecstatic as the Nigerian Super Falcons came back from two goals down in the first half to defeat hosts Morocco 3-2 in a dramatic final on Saturday, July 26.
Indeed, it was a spectacular comeback that cemented their dominance in African women’s football and resulted in a record-breaking championship victory.
Aside from the incredible teamwork that earned the team the competition’s top prize, Super Falcons captain Rasheedat Ajibade was named “Woman of the Competition,” while goalie Chiamaka Nnadozie was named “Best Goalkeeper” of the event.
On their home return, the team was received with jubilation as they paraded through Abuja, drawing cheers from residents on their way to the Presidential Villa where President Bola Ahmed Tinubu welcomed the team back home and bestowed the national honor of Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON) on each of them.
The president also announced the prize of $100,000 in naira to each of the 24 players, as well as a three-bedroom condominium at the Renewed Hope Estate in Abuja for the winners. He also revealed that each member of the technical team will receive the naira equivalent of $50,000.
A few days later, the Nigerian basketball national team did something similar when they overcame Mali 78-64 to win their seventh AFROBASKET title, which also secured them a spot in next year’s FIBA Women’s World Cup.
The D’Tigress, the national female football team too, were promised a similar reward last month after winning the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON). Where every member of Nigeria’s national female basketball team will get a cash incentive of $100,000 (£75,000) after winning the FIBA Women’s AFROBASKET Championship in Ivory Coast over the weekend.
This time around, it was the Vice-President Kashim Shettima that conveyed the Federal Government gift to each player with a three-bedroom flat at a special reception hosted in honor of the squad at State House in Abuja.
Members of D’Tigress’s coaching and technical staff too were not left out as the government also promised $50,000 to each and a flat.
Honestly, I have no grudges or corral with the gifts because they are kind gestures intended to encourage those who performed better which will also see others to do the same or even better.
I believe that recognizing greatness is a fantastic and respected gesture for those who deserve it since it provides recognition, advancement, or a sense of fulfilment.
It is a kind gesture which is frequently given to people who demonstrate exceptional skill, devotion, or performance in their respective areas.
These benefits can be real, such as promotions (if they are government or private employees) or bonuses, or intangible, such as increased respect and influence, but they are ultimately determined by the context and nature of the shown performance.
For example, in sports, it’s the only thing that athletes who are really good in their sport and represent their country in any competition get in return.
They represented their country in a situation where they had to do their best and beat their opponents, who usually had greater care, facilities, and training.
My major problem with the prize in Nigerian sports is that it hasn’t been applied fairly. Some national teams and athletes get a lot of attention, while others have to wait, be ignored, or even be forgotten most of the time.
Rewards for Nigerian athletes have historically been erratic, frequently beset by setbacks, unfulfilled commitments, or partial acknowledgment. Some significant disastrous incidents include:
Super Eagles (1994): Nigeria’s AFCON-winning squad had to wait 31 years to receive the houses promised to them by the federal government in 1994. Sadly, key members such as Rashidi Yekini and Stephen Keshi died before the fulfillment of the promise.
Chioma Ajunwa (1996 Olympic Gold Medalist): Ajunwa, Nigeria’s first individual Olympic gold medalist, waited many years before receiving housing and national recognition, despite her historic feat in Atlanta.
Para-athletes: Nigeria’s para-athletes, who have often outperformed their able-bodied counterparts in global competitions, remain largely under-recognized and under-rewarded.
D’Tigress (Past AFROBASKET wins): While the team has dominated African basketball for years, they were forced to protest unpaid allowances and lack of formal recognition as recently as 2021, threatening a boycott of future events.
Although the rewards were widely celebrated, but some Nigerians questioned their timing and sustainability, considering the nation’s current economic challenges.
Others believe that paying top athletes for accomplishments while ignoring mass sports growth is inequitable.
However, critics overlook the fact that recognition of excellence, especially on an international stage, promotes: National pride; Sports tourism; Youth inspiration and Gender equality in sports.
To them the idea that such gestures should be stopped because of widespread poverty is flawed. Rather, a parallel effort must be made to expand and democratize access to sports opportunities nationwide.
However, I would not join those who are criticizing President Tinubu’s players’ rewards simply because the majority of Nigerians are in financial distress and require assistance.
I have no doubt that people would have been saying something else by now if the president had not declared some kind of reward or presents in recognition of what these guys accomplished.
I don’t know why Nigerians are unpredictable; we demand something if it isn’t delivered and criticize it when it is.
Furthermore, I want to disagree with some people who argue that the money given should be distributed to Nigerians rather than given to a select few players as a reward.
This is because I don’t see the point or rationality of providing money to Nigerians simply because the vast majority of them are financially unstable. It never happens anywhere on the globe.
People must work hard or hunt elsewhere for more money if their jobs are not flourishing, or seek employment if they are unemployed; Nigeria is a huge country with numerous opportunities.
It has never been and will never be feasible, and its impossibility stems from our greed and lack of contentment.
We have all seen and experienced how previous governments’ intentions to assist the people with cash or in kind failed due to our insincerity and evil deeds.
I recall “Trader Money or what ,” the late former President Muhammdu Buhari launched to assist folks at the grassroots, and how a few of us used numerous GSP lines to collect all of the allotted funds without reaching their intended audience.
As a result, in today’s Nigeria, it is not wise or feasible for the government to consider sharing money to the general populace since we lack the habit of talking or collecting once.
We are not accustomed, trained, organized, or polite to queuing behind one another for anything related to collecting.
It will look ridiculous if thousands of people besiege a location or come for something as small as a few hundred, with everyone hoping to obtain it.
Recommendations for Future Rewards & Sports Development Strategy
- Institutionalize a National Sports Rewards Policy: The government should create a Reward Framework based on achievements (e.g., Olympic medals, continental titles) and assure equal applicability across sports and genders.
- Ensure Timely Fulfilment of Promises: The government should establish a Sports Awards Fund inside the Ministry of Sports to facilitate the immediate payout of pledged awards and track all reward pledges using public transparency dashboards.
- Recognize All Categories of Contributors: The government should reward coaches, backroom personnel, and physiotherapists, as well as posthumous accolades for slain heroes like as Okworaji, Yekini, and Keshi.
- Bridge the Gap Between Elite and Grassroots Sports: While elite athletes are honored, the government should make persistent investments in grassroots development, school sports, and community infrastructure.
- Empower Female Athletes Equally: The government should use the consistent success of the Super Falcons, D’Tigress, and female track stars to increase investment in women’s sports.
- Review & Honor Historical Promises: Form a Presidential Task Force to audit past unfulfilled sports reward pledges and act upon them.
I believe President Tinubu’s gesture is admirable, as it recognizes the power of athletics to unite, inspire, and elevate a nation.
However, this must not be a one-time political show, but rather part of a long-term, transparent, and institutionalized strategy for rewarding achievement and supporting Nigerian sports at all levels.
Finally, as we celebrate the achievements of Super Falcons and D’Tigress, we must use this opportunity to build a reliable structure that ensures no champion is forgotten, and no promise goes unfulfilled again.
