Abuja — The Education Ministry has stepped forward to dispel confusion surrounding cash awards given to Nigerian students who triumphed in the TeenEagle 2024/2025 international competitions. The ministry confirmed through an official statement on September 4, 2025, that the monetary tokens were personal gestures by the Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, and not financed from government resources.

What Was Previously Reported

Reports circulating online previously stated that ₦200,000 was awarded to Nafisah Abdullahi, winner of the TeenEagle Global Finals, and another ₦800,000 went to Nafisa Abdullahi Aminu, the TeenEagle World English Language Competition winner—bringing the total reported to ₦1.7 million.

Ministry’s Official Clarification

In a statement released on its official X (formerly Twitter) handle, the ministry emphasized that the awards were not sponsored by the Federal Government or the Ministry’s budget. It stated: “For the avoidance of doubt, … the monetary tokens … were personal gifts from the Honourable Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa.”

Dr. Alausa also used his verified social media platforms to explain that the purpose of the gifts was simply to encourage the students and recognize their achievements, particularly the young girls, as an inspiration to peers across Nigeria.

Policy on Education Funding

The Ministry clarified that its financial framework supports structured educational investments—such as scholarships for students entering public tertiary institutions—not ad-hoc cash awards. The ministry urged the public to dismiss any claims suggesting that the funds were drawn from public coffers, labeling such reports as “false and misleading.”