Nigeria’s Great Imbalance: Celebrating Goals, Ignoring Genius

By Dr. Michael Omoruyi

When Victory Brings Unequal Rewards

When Nigeria’s Super Falcons lifted the Africa Women’s Nations Cup, the federal government rolled out the red carpet: each player received $100,000 and a new house. The country celebrated with fanfare, and the government basked in the glow of shared national pride.

Fast-forward to another international stage: a young Nigerian, through grit and brilliance, defeated contestants from 69 countries to win a prestigious English language competition. The government’s reward? A mere ₦200,000. The contrast could not be more striking.

Why Sports Steal the Spotlight

Sports, especially football, command mass appeal. Victories unite Nigerians across ethnic, political, and religious divides. Governments capitalize on this momentary euphoria for political goodwill. A stadium roars louder than a classroom, and leaders know where the cameras will point.

The result is a disproportionate reward system: athletes are celebrated as national heroes, while intellectual champions receive token recognition that barely scratches the surface of their achievement.

The Neglect of Education

Education, by its nature, yields long-term benefits, not instant gratification. Politicians rarely see quick wins in funding classrooms, laboratories, or academic competitions. Yet, the lack of robust investment and recognition has dire consequences:

• Brain Drain: Talented young Nigerians seek greener pastures abroad.

• Skewed Incentives: More youth dream of becoming football stars or entertainers than innovators or educators.

• Weak Human Capital: A country that undervalues knowledge lags behind in research, technology, and governance.

A Nation at the Crossroads

Sports deserve celebration, but they must not overshadow education. Brains and books should be valued as much as balls and boots. Nigeria’s future depends not only on trophies but on thinkers, scientists, and innovators who can solve the nation’s pressing challenges.

Rewarding intellectual brilliance with dignity and equal recognition would send a powerful signal: that the government sees education not as a chore, but as the true foundation of national greatness.

The Way Forward

Nigeria must rebalance its priorities:

Create national endowments for education competitions, just as sports tournaments enjoy state support.

Institutionalize scholarships, houses, and financial packages for winners of global academic contests.

Leverage media to amplify education victories, making them as celebrated as sports finals.

Only then will young Nigerians know that their country values both their minds and their talents.

Final Word: If Nigeria truly wants to secure its future, it must shift from tokenism in education to transformative investment in knowledge. The world will remember our football goals, but it will respect us for our intellectual giants.

About the Author

Dr. Michael Omoruyi is a technologist, educator, diaspora activist, and publisher of iNewsAfrica. His work bridges technology, culture, and governance to empower the global African community.