17-year-old Nigerian student Nafisa Aminu beats 69 countries to win global English championship

A 17-year-old student from Yobe State, Nigeria, Nafisa Abdullah Aminu, has emerged as the world’s best in English language skills at the 2025 TeenEagle Global Finals held in London, United Kingdom.

Nafisa, representing Nigeria through the Nigerian Tulip International College (NTIC), Yobe State, triumphed over 69 countries and topped a staggering 20,000 participants worldwide, a feat that places her firmly in the global spotlight and marks a historic moment for Nigeria in international academic competitions.

The competition tested various aspects of English language proficiency and communication, making her victory a testament to not just her brilliance but also the quality of education she received in Nigeria.

This outstanding achievement was announced in a statement by Hassan Salifu, head of the Aminu family, who attributed Nafisa’s success to “dedication, discipline, and the enabling support of the Yobe State government.”

“Our daughter’s global success would not have been possible without the visionary support for education by His Excellency, Governor Mai Mala Buni, whose efforts have brought international honour to our state and nation,” the statement read.

“Her win has brought immense pride to her family, her school, her state, and the nation at large.”

They also extended appreciation to the management and teachers of Nigerian Tulip International College, whose dedication to academic excellence, they believe, prepared Nafisa to compete and win on the global stage.

Meanwhile, Nigerians across the country are now calling for Nafisa to be officially recognised with State and National Honours, as many believe her victory is not only a personal triumph but a symbol of Nigeria’s untapped academic potential.

Former Minister of Communications and Digital Economy Isa Pantami, in a post made via Facebook on Tuesday, said Nafisa is a national treasure and deserves recognition just like the Super Falcons were awarded $100,000, a three-bedroom apartment, and the national honour of Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON) each after winning the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco, as well as the D’Tigress basketball team was honoured after their historic fifth consecutive win at the FIBA Women’s AfroBasket.

He said; “I strongly recommend that Nafisa deserves $100,000, a three-bedroom flat, and a national honour from the federal government of Nigeria. In addition, her English teacher deserves a reward similar to the one given to the coaching and technical team of the football and basketball players. We must continue to take education very seriously and reward the efforts of our citizens.

“Interestingly, it is said that education is the passport to future development, for tomorrow belongs to those who prepare for it today through education and skills. 

“Finally, it is essential to always remember that education is the foundation upon which we build our future and the future of our country. Let’s invite our daughter and the daughter of all Nigerians, along with her English teacher, to the presidency. What is good for the goose is good for the gander.”

A social media critic, Daniel Regha, reacting to the feat, noted that Nafisa’s victory defies stereotypes and shatters long-standing misconceptions about certain parts of Nigeria. 

“A Northerner did that—proof that it’s not by region or ethnicity,” he said.