Nigeria’s senior women’s basketball team, D’Tigress, have received the official documents for their houses in Abuja alongside certificates confirming their National Honours, fulfilling the promises made by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu following their historic triumph at the FIBA Women’s AfroBasket in August 2025 in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire.
The presentation took place in Lyon, France, the host city of the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup Qualifying Tournament, where the African champions are currently competing.
The players and team officials were presented with the documents by the Chairman of the National Sports Commission of Nigeria, Shehu Dikko, and the Director-General, Bukola Olopade, alongside other senior government officials.
The gesture fulfils the reward package announced by President Tinubu after the team’s remarkable AfroBasket victory and underscores the Federal Government’s commitment to recognising and rewarding excellence in Nigerian sports.
Speaking during the presentation, NSC Chairman Shehu Dikko described the development as a demonstration of the President’s strong commitment to Nigerian athletes.
He noted that the prompt delivery of the promised rewards reflects a new era in which government commitments to sportsmen and women are honoured without delay.
“I want to first of all thank Mr. President for making sports work again in Nigeria and for giving every Nigerian athlete renewed confidence that sports can truly transform lives. Sports is no longer just leisure; it is serious business capable of putting food on the table for many Nigerians,” he said.
Dikko added that the President was delighted to honour the players for consistently projecting Nigeria’s image positively on the global stage through their dedication, resilience, and patriotic spirit.
He further assured the team that the cash rewards earlier promised by the President are already in the final stage of processing and will soon be credited to the players’ respective bank accounts.
Also speaking, the Director-General of the National Sports Commission, Bukola Olopade, commended President Tinubu for redefining the sports reward system in Nigeria.
According to him, the President’s approach aligns with global best practices in developed sporting nations where athletes are duly rewarded for bringing honour to their countries.
“Mr. President is a rewarder, and his reward system is already producing tremendous results in Nigerian sports. The prompt fulfilment of the promises made to these athletes is further proof of the priority he places on sports development in Nigeria,” Olopade said.
He added that under President Tinubu’s leadership, athletes can be assured that excellence and service to the nation will always be recognised and rewarded.President of the Nigeria Basketball Federation, Musa Kida, also expressed appreciation to the President for what he described as a historic commitment to the welfare of Nigerian athletes.
Head Coach of the team, Rena Wakama, said the players and officials were deeply grateful for the recognition and support from the Federal Government.
She assured Nigerians that the team remains focused on continuing its impressive run on the international stage.
Team captain Amy Okonkwo also conveyed the team’s appreciation to the President on behalf of the entire squad, pledging that D’Tigress will continue to make the nation proud through their performances.
The development has further lifted the morale of the team as they continue their campaign at the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup Qualifying Tournament in Lyon.
