The Nigerian Senate has announced a donation of ₦100 million to the country’s Under-17 women’s national football team, the Flamingos, following their historic victory at the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in Rabat, Morocco.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio announced the donation during Tuesday’s plenary session while presiding over a motion moved by Senator Abdul Ningi (ADC, Bauchi Central), who called for the Senate to congratulate the team on its achievement.
Ningi described the victory as historic, noting that the young players had accomplished what several other Nigerian national teams had struggled to achieve.
He said the triumph was particularly remarkable given the limited expectations surrounding the team before the competition.
The senator expressed concern that the achievement had not received adequate publicity and national recognition, arguing that the players deserved to be celebrated for bringing honour to Nigeria and Africa.
He also raised concerns over what he described as insufficient official recognition for the team upon its return to the country.
Seconding the motion, Senator Adams Oshiomhole (APC, Edo North) commended the Flamingos for defeating Japan in the final, describing their victory as evidence of the potential and determination of Nigerian youths.
Oshiomhole urged Nigerians to recognise the country’s achievements rather than focus solely on its challenges.
He also appealed to the Senate leadership to make a financial donation to the team to support the players’ educational needs alongside their sporting careers.
The Senate subsequently adopted Ningi’s prayers, congratulating President Bola Tinubu on his support for sports development, Nigerians on the historic victory and the leadership of the National Sports Commission, particularly its chairman, Shehu Dikko.
Lawmakers also urged the Federal Government to provide adequate compensation and rewards for the players in recognition of their achievement.
In his remarks, Akpabio described the victory as a significant milestone for Nigeria and Africa, particularly given that the Flamingos defeated established football nations, including Brazil and Japan, during the competition.
He called on the Federal Government to adequately reward the players and urged the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to sustain the team and continue developing the young footballers for future competitions.
The Senate President also appealed to wealthy and sports-loving Nigerians to support the players and encourage more young people to participate in sports.
