The Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga has sparked a heated debate by comparing the $100,000 reward given to the Super Falcons to the ₦150 million prize money awarded to the winner of Big Brother Naija.
It would be recalled that President Tinubu had on Monday bestowed the national honor of Officer of the Order of the Nigeria, on the Super Falcons and the entire technical crew.
He also allocated three-bedroom apartments in Abuja to each of the players and the technical crew at the Renewed Hope Estate.
The President also directed the cash award of the naira equivalent of $100,000 each of the 24 players and $50,000 to each of the 11-man technical crew.
Taking to X, Onanuga defended President Tinubu’s gesture, saying the reward is well-deserved given the team’s hard work and dedication. He wrote: “When you remember that Multichoice, the organizer of the BBNaija reality show, is offering the winner ₦150 million grand prize, you wonder why some Nigerians are unappreciative of President Tinubu’s rewards to the Super Falcons. President Tinubu has rewarded excellence, creativity, hard work, soccer artistry and the undying Nigerian spirit.”
This comparison has drawn mixed reactions from Nigerians and here are some of the reactions:
One user Chris Ani wrote: “Yeah. Let him pay $1000 monthly to teachers. Imagine using BbNaija for comparison. Una too dull for this govt and Apc. How much do yoh pay teachers and university lecturers ?”
Another user Osaro Phd, Csu said: “Epa, Multi choice is a private business.
I appreciate the president rewarding the girls—but when will such gestures be extended to the educational sector?”
Ansem Edet wrote: “Bbn is a business, Nigeria isn’t. Where did we get the money to dash out like that? Don’t you all swear that our country has no money?”
Sunflower 🌻 said: “are they giving all the bbn housemates 150m?”
Haruna wrote: “What @aonanuga1956 forgot is BBNaija price is from a profit generating company & are using the BBNaija as marketing/Advertisements but @officialABAT is using public funds after putting more citizens into severe financial difficulties due his poor economic reform.”