Buhari Gives D’Tigress N1m Each

President Mohammadu Buhari has given each player in the Nigerian female basketball national team, D’Tigress N1m each, for emerging African champions for the third time in history.
President Buhari made the announcement on Wednesday, when he received D’Tigress before the Federal Executive Council meeting, a day after sports minister, Barrister Solomon Dalung hosted the 2017 AfroBasket champions in his office.
Dramatcially, Buhari’s first assignment on his return to chair the FEC meeting, which started at about 11:00am, was to receive the victorious basketball team.
The reception came hot on the heels of message of congratulation from President Buhari, in which he congratulated D’Tigress on winning the 2017 African Women’s Basket Championship in Mali and qualifying for the 2018 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup in Spain.
Buhari joined other sports-loving Nigerians in saluting the heroic performance of the victorious D’Tigress over their Senegalese counterpart in the final on Sunday.
The President, in a statement by his special adviser on media and publicity, Femi Adesina, hailed the players for displaying uncommon strength, confidence, skill and dexterity in their victory over the defending champions.
He also urged members of the team and their handlers to remain focused and dedicated even as they prepare for greater glory to Nigeria at the 2018 FIBA World Cup.
Buhari further assured the team, its managers and Nigeria Basketball Federation of his support and that of the Federal Government to ensure that they excel against other top competitors in Spain.
On his part, Dalung said President Buhari is excited that DTigress won all their matches at the competition and qualified for the World Cup in Spain.
While attributing recent successes recorded in basketball and wrestling to the ongoing sports reforms of his ministry, Dalung commended the basketball players and wrestlers for showing the true Nigerian spirit, which he said always thrives in the face of adversity.
Dalung praised the team for making Nigeria proud adding that their victory was not by chance but as a result of well- articulated programs by the NBBF and NWF boards.
“We congratulate DTigress, the technical crew and the entire management of the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF) for winning the 2017 FIBA Women’s Afrobasket trophy.
“You not only broke a 12 year old draught, but also won a ticket to the World Cup next year. This cannot be ascribed to luck, but weeks of hard work, planning and strategising by the board, technical crew and the players. We also applaud the wrestlers for winning silver at the World championship.
“We are aware of the fact that the road to becoming the African Champions and booking a ticket to the World Cup was never easy. The federal government salutes these brave girls who have written Nigeria’s name on the global map once again after 12 years.”