Honoring the Falcons, Upholding The Naira: A Patriotic Standard

By Olabode Opeseitan

The Super Falcons’ historic 10th WAFCON triumph deserves every accolade – and President Tinubu’s comprehensive reward package (national honors, housing, and cash awards) sets a worthy precedent.

In one masterstroke, President Tinubu has rewritten Nigeria’s narrative – transforming the nation from one that habitually neglects its heroes to one that showers them with timely, tangible honors while their triumph still echoes across the continent. This instant, monumental recognition doesn’t just reward the Falcons; it fundamentally alters Nigeria’s psychology of appreciation.

While the rewards were benchmarked against dollar amounts, the administration’s decision to disburse only the naira equivalent maintains an important principle of currency sovereignty. This approach aligns perfectly with the government’s recently introduced “Nigeria First” policy targeted at boosting local productivity. The symbolism matters: when Nigeria celebrates national heroes, doing so in the national currency reinforces economic confidence.

Three key wins emerge from this structure:
1. Psychological Victory – Moving away from direct dollar disbursements demonstrates commitment to strengthening Nigeria’s financial systems
2. Policy Consistency – Matches the CBN’s ongoing efforts to deepen naira usage in major transactions
3. Global Messaging – Shows international observers that Nigeria takes its currency sovereignty seriously

The Falcons brought glory to Nigeria; the government’s response upheld an important economic principle while setting a new standard for timely recognition of excellence. May this currency-conscious approach define all future national honors.