BY AHMED AKANBI
The Senate has donated N100 million to Nigeria’s U-17 women’s national team, the Flamingos, following their historic triumph at the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in Rabat, Morocco.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio announced the donation during plenary on Tuesday while presiding over a motion moved by Senator Abdul Ningi, Bauchi Central, Chairman of the Committee on Sports, to congratulate the team.
Ningi described the victory as historic, noting that the young players achieved what several other Nigerian national teams had struggled to accomplish, despite limited expectations before the competition.
He lamented that the achievement had not received adequate publicity and national recognition, and that the team did not get sufficient official recognition on arrival in the country.
Seconding the motion, Senator Adams Oshiomhole, Edo North, commended the team for defeating Japan in the final, describing the victory as proof of the potential and determination of Nigerian youths.
Oshiomhole urged Nigerians to celebrate the country’s achievements rather than constantly dwell on its challenges. He also appealed to the Senate leadership to donate to the team to support the players’ education alongside their sporting careers.
The Senate thereafter adopted Ningi’s prayers congratulating President Bola Tinubu for his support for sports development, Nigerians on the historic victory, and the leadership of the National Sports Commission, particularly its Chairman, Shehu Dikko.
It also urged the federal government to provide adequate compensation and rewards for the players.
In his remarks, Akpabio said the victory was a major achievement for Nigeria and Africa, particularly as the Flamingos defeated football powers including Brazil and Japan.
“I want to commend the Flamingos, the Under-17 youth team of Nigeria, for defeating major countries such as Brazil and Japan to win the Under-17 World Cup for Africa for the first time and for Nigeria,” Akpabio said.
“We also urged, and we pray that the federal government will recognise these children accordingly and give them adequate rewards. The Nigerian Football Federation, under its leadership, should see the need to keep these children together and develop them further,” he added.
Akpabio urged the federal government to adequately reward the players, called on the NFF to sustain the team, and appealed to wealthy and sports-loving Nigerians to support the players and encourage more young people to take up sports.
He said the N100 million donation was meant to recognise the players’ achievement and encourage them to keep bringing honour to the country.