Media attaché lauds govt over largesse

Newly crowned African women’s basketball champions, D’Tigress, yesterday received a N200 million donation from Zenith Bank in recognition of their extraordinary achievement at the recently concluded 2023 FIBA Women’s AfroBasket tournament in Côte d’Ivoire.
 
The reward comes on the heels of the Federal Government’s $100 000 (equivalent in naira) gift to each of the players and $50,000 to each member of the technical crew, as well as a three-bedroom bungalow to each member of the team.
 
The financial institution, yesterday, credited ₦10 million to each of the players in individual Zenith Bank accounts set to be opened in their names. The balance of the donation will be allocated to the technical crew in appreciation of their tireless contributions to the team’s historic triumph.
 
D’Tigress recently captured its fifth consecutive AfroBasket title—a feat unmatched in African women’s basketball history. With this win, D’Tigress have now recorded 29 straight victories in the tournament, affirming their dominance and cementing their legacy as a continental powerhouse.
  
Speaking on the team’s accomplishments, the President of the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF), Musa Kida, applauded the players for their commitment, resilience, and sportsmanship.
 
Kida also commended Zenith Bank’s longstanding support for basketball in Nigeria, noting that such partnerships are critical to sustaining the growth and visibility of the sport. He dedicated the team’s latest win to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his administration’s growing commitment to sports excellence.
 
Meanwhile, the Media attaché to D’Tigress to the just concluded African championships in Cote d’Ivoire, Michael Obasi, has expressed his heartfelt appreciation to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Chairman of the National Sports Commission, Shehu Dikko, and Director General of the NSC, Bukola Olopade, following his recognition by the Presidency during Monday’s national reception for the D’Tigress.
 
Obasi, who served as the media attaché for D’Tigress during their victorious campaign at the 2025 FIBA Women’s Afrobasket in Côte d’Ivoire, was among the beneficiaries of the Federal Government’s reward package for the team’s outstanding achievement.
 
At the ceremony, Vice President Kashim Shettima, who represented President Tinubu, announced that each player would receive $100,000, a three-bedroom flat, and a national honour (Officer of the Order of the Niger – OON). Team officials, including Obasi, were also handsomely rewarded with $50,000, a three-bedroom flat, and national honours.
 
In his message to The Guardian, yesterday, an elated Obasi said, “I am overwhelmed with joy and deeply grateful to President Tinubu, as well as to my bosses- Shehu Dikko and Bukola Olopade- for their unwavering support. I also thank Kola Daniel for playing a key role behind the scenes to make this recognition possible.”