By NABILU BALARABE

Gov Mai Mala Buni of Yobe has congratulated two teenagers of the state origin for emerging overall best in English Language and debate competition at the 2025 TeenEagle Global Finals in London.

Nafisa Abdullahi, 17, and Ruqayya Fema, 15, both students of Nigeria Tulip International College, Mamudo, represented Nigeria at the competition and beat 20,000 participants from 69 countries.

This is contained in a statement by Alhaji Mamman Mohammed, Gov Mai Mala Buni’s Director-General Press and Media Affairs in Damaturu on Tuesday.

According to Mohammed, Buni described the outstanding performance as a great honour to the state and country.

“These are great feats that make us proud and justify the government’s investment in the education sector,” he said.

Buni said that he had approved a grand reception to honour the winners at a later date.

The Governor pledged that his administration would continue to subsidize education for every child in the state to have the opportunity to go school, and appealed to parents for cooperation.

He stated that Nafisa and Rukayya were both beneficiaries of the scholarship programme, covering full tuition for 890 students at the College.

Buni added that there were about 40,000 students on the state government’s scholarship, studying various courses at universities and other tertiary institutions in Nigeria and overseas.

“A few months ago, the state celebrated the graduation of 167 beneficiaries of the state-funded scholarship programme, who graduated in medical sciences, computer science and engineering from Indian Universities,” he said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the college was built and funded by Yobe Government, but managed by Turks. (NAN)