Two teenage students from Yobe State have drawn commendations from political leaders and public figures following their performance at the 2025 TeenEagle Global Finals in London, where they emerged as top performers in English language and debate, ahead of 20,000 students from 69 countries.
The students, Nafisa Abdullahi Aminu, 17, and Ruqayya Fema, 15, both from Nigerian Tulip International College (NTIC) in Mamudo, represented Nigeria at the competition, which assesses English proficiency, critical thinking, and communication skills among teenagers worldwide.
In separate statements and social media posts, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Yobe State Governor Mai Mala Buni, and former Minister of Communications and Digital Economy Isa Ali Pantami congratulated the students, particularly Nafisa, who was named the World Best in English Language Skills at the competition.
Atiku, in a post on X, said Nafisa’s success demonstrates the possibilities available when girls have access to education and a conducive learning environment.
“Nafisa’s outstanding success serves as a powerful testament to the limitless potential of the Nigerian girl-child when provided with quality education and a supportive environment,” he wrote.
He also argued that investing in girls’ education is not only a matter of fairness but a “strategic necessity for national transformation,” calling on Nigerians to “dismantle every barrier” that limits the potential of girls.
Governor Buni also praised the students, describing their achievement as “a great honour to the state and country,” according to a statement released by his media aide, Mamman Mohammed.
He disclosed that both students are recipients of the state government’s scholarship programme, which currently supports 890 students at the NTIC and around 40,000 others in tertiary institutions in Nigeria and abroad.
Buni said, “These are great feats that make us proud and justify the government’s investment in the education sector.” He added that a reception would be held in their honour.
The Governor cited the recent graduation of 167 scholarship recipients in fields such as medicine, computer science, and engineering from universities in India as part of the state’s broader education support efforts.
The NTIC Mamudo campus, where the two students are enrolled, was built and funded by the Yobe State Government but is managed by a Turkish organisation.
Meanwhile, former Minister Pantami, in a post on X, called on the federal government to reward Nafisa in the same manner as it recently honoured members of the Super Falcons and D’Tigress basketball team.
He suggested that Nafisa be awarded $100,000, a three-bedroom flat, and a national honour, adding that her English teacher should also be recognised.
He wrote, “What is good for the goose is good for the gander. Let’s invite our daughter and the daughter of all Nigerians, along with her English teacher, to the presidency.”
Pantami stressed that educational achievements should be celebrated and rewarded to reflect the country’s commitment to intellectual excellence.
“Education is the foundation upon which we build our future and the future of our country,” he said.
Nafisa’s success was also confirmed by her family, with her guardian, Hassan Salifu, attributing her performance to “dedication, discipline, and the enabling support of the state government.”
The TeenEagle competition is an international platform open to students from both English-speaking and non-English-speaking countries, and is regarded for testing language proficiency alongside broader communication and critical thinking skills.
