“Tinubu Says Education Is a Scam” —Students React as President Fails to Honour Girl Who Won Global Competition

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is facing a wave of backlash after failing to officially honour 17-year-old Nafisa Abdullahi Aminu, the Nigerian student who emerged World Best in English Language Skills at the 2025 TeenEagle Global Competition held in London.

While the Presidency issued a statement on August 6 congratulating Nafisa and her teammates, 15-year-old Rukayya Muhammad Fema, who won Best in Debate, and Hadiza Kashim Kalli, who clinched the Outstanding Talent Gold Medal,  the girls have received no formal recognition from the Nigerian government. No invite to Aso Rock. No national honour. No cash reward. No public appearance with the President.

Yet just recently, President Tinubu rolled out the red carpet for Nigeria’s women’s national teams, the Super Falcons and D’Tigress at the Presidential Villa. Each player received $100,000, a housing unit, and was conferred with the national honour of Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON) in recognition of their victories at the WAFCON and AfroBasket Championships, respectively.

This glaring double standard has sparked nationwide criticism, particularly from students and education advocates, who believe the President has once again demonstrated that Nigeria does not value academic excellence.

“Is it because she didn’t score a goal? Or because it was English and not entertainment?” asked Bukola A., a 300-level university student in Ilorin. “This is the reason why many students don’t feel motivated to aim for excellence anymore.”

On social media, the phrase “Tinubu says education is a scam” has gone viral a biting expression of frustration over what many describe as performative support for education. While the press release praised Nigeria’s education system and highlighted Tinubu’s student loan scheme, critics say the government is failing to show young people that academic achievement is worth celebrating.

“This girl put Nigeria on the global map with her brain,” tweeted one user. “But Tinubu ignored her like she won a local quiz in her compound. Meanwhile, footballers get a trip to Aso Rock just for showing up.”

In several campuses across Nigeria, student unions and academic clubs have released statements condemning the silence from the Presidency. At University Of Ilorin, some students described the government’s inaction as “deeply discouraging and reflective of a country that does not reward intellectual excellence.”

“How do we tell younger girls in the North to go to school, read, and compete when their sister who did all that is ignored?”asked Aisha Umar, a student at Kogi State University, Kogi.

“This isn’t just disrespectful,  it’s damaging.”

Even more painful, some students say, is that the three girls are from Northern Nigeria, a region where female education still battles cultural, social, and infrastructural challenges. Nafisa, Rukayya, and Hadiza are being seen as shining role models for millions of girls, but instead of being elevated, they’ve been left in the shadows.

“She broke barriers and made history,” said Ibrahim Sule, a final-year student in Benue. “The least she deserves is to be treated like a national treasure.”

In contrast, critics argue, athletes and celebrities continue to enjoy state-sponsored recognition, regardless of outcomes, reinforcing a cultural message that values performance over intellect, fame over hard work, and entertainment over education.

So far, there has been no official response from the Presidency.