Photo Credit: Photo as used by Punch Newspapers / State House (Presidency). Original photo credit: Punch NG.
Tinubu Redeems $100,000 Reward, D’Tigress Captain and NBBF President Hail President
The President of the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF), Engr. Musa Kida, and D’Tigress captain, Amy Okonkwo, have commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu after the Federal Government fulfilled its $100,000 cash reward to players and officials of Nigeria’s senior women’s basketball team.

The payment is part of the presidential rewards announced during a reception at the Aso Rock Villa last year to celebrate D’Tigress’ historic fifth consecutive FIBA Women’s Afrobasket title. President Tinubu had pledged a three-bedroom flat and $100,000 (in Naira equivalent) for each player.

According to the report, the disbursement was finalized after the Chairman of the National Sports Commission, Mallam Shehu Dikko, met with the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, to conclude arrangements. Within three days of that meeting, players and officials of both D’Tigress and the Super Falcons received their funds.

President Tinubu, in a post on his X handle @officialABAT, confirmed that the rewards had been “fully redeemed,” with each D’Tigress player receiving the Naira equivalent of $100,000 and each official receiving $50,000, alongside national honours and three-bedroom homes in Abuja.

The President noted that his administration became the first Federal Government to fulfill presidential sporting rewards of that scale in full within one year, stating that due process delayed the payment. “That took time, but a promise made must be a promise kept,” he said.

Reacting, Engr. Kida thanked the leadership of the NSC and the Finance Ministry for expediting the release of the funds.

On her part, Captain Amy Okonkwo, speaking on behalf of the team, described Tinubu as a father figure committed to athletes’ welfare:
“On behalf of the entire D’Tigress team, I want to specially thank our dear President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, for this show of love and support… We have received the houses he promised us, the national honours he bestowed on us, and now we have all received the financial rewards promised to us in our various accounts,”
She added that the gesture shows Nigerian sports is taking a major positive shift.

D’Tigress won the 2025 title in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, beating Mali 78-64 in the final to secure their seventh continental crown and extend their unbeaten run to 29 games.
Source: Punch Newspapers