The Nigerian government as well as corporate sponsors have appreciated the achievement of newly crowned U17 Women’s world champions, the Flamingos, by showering them with various cash rewards.
The Flamingos beat 2014 champions Japan 2-1 in Rabat, Morocco, to become the first African team to win the FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup.
President Bola Tinubu rewarded the Flamingos with 100 million Naira each in form of a Federal Government Savings Bond.
The players will be presented with certificates for this bond, which will generate monthly returns and still be intact after five years.
National Sports Commission (NSC) chairman, Shehu Dikko said the bonds would earn annual interest of about 12 to 14 per cent, giving each player an estimated ₦1.1 million monthly income while preserving the principal.
He said the scheme would fund education, training and personal development and further protect the young players’ financial futures.
He described President Bola Tinubu’s decision as an unprecedented way to reward young athletes, saying the players would be adults when the bonds matured.
Flamingos head coach Hakeem Busari received a cash of 100 million Naira, while the other team officials got 50 million Naira each.
The National Assembly also announced a cash gift of 100 million Naira to the entire team.
Premium Trust Bank hosted the team to a special reception Wednesday night in Abuja, while another NFF sponsor, MTN, will also host them.
