Nollywood actor Ime Bishop Umoh, popularly known as Okon Lagos, and activist Omoyele Sowore have both urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to extend the same level of reward and national recognition given to the victorious Super Falcons to other Nigerians risking their lives in service—particularly police officers, military personnel, and National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members.
Their reactions follow President Tinubu’s recent announcement of $100,000 (₦150 million) cash gifts, three-bedroom houses, and national honours for each member of the Super Falcons team and coaching staff, after winning the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) for a record 10th time in Morocco.
In a widely shared Instagram post on Monday, Okon Lagos praised the President’s generosity but pleaded for equal recognition for frontline officers and youth corps members who serve without adequate compensation or national honour.
“It’s commendable how Mr President is splashing out handsome rewards for excellent service,” he wrote.
“Please extend this largesse to the Nigerian Police, the military—especially those on the frontlines. There has to be a Nigerian first for all to be Nigerian.”
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Echoing similar sentiments, rights advocate and former presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore described the disparity in rewards as glaringly unjust.
In a Facebook post, Sowore criticized the government for neglecting retired officers who spent over three decades in service with little to show for it. “Super Falcons played for one month and got $100,000 each and houses,” he wrote.
“Police officers worked 35 years and retired with just $1,500, no houses, no healthcare, and a small pension.”
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While President Tinubu’s recognition of the Super Falcons has drawn praise for celebrating sporting excellence, the gesture has also sparked widespread public debate on social media, with many Nigerians questioning why other patriotic sectors—especially security and service personnel—remain unrewarded.
The award ceremony took place at the Presidential Villa in Abuja on July 28, sparking renewed calls for a more balanced and inclusive reward system in the country.
