Earlier last week, Nigeria came together in unified celebration as President Bola Tinubu honoured the Super Falcons, the indomitable women’s football team whose exceptional performance at the African Women’s Cup of Nations rekindled national pride. Each player was awarded a three-bedroom apartment and a generous cash reward—a historic gesture highlighting excellence, resilience, and the unifying power of sport. The applause rang out across the nation, inspiring young girls and reminding all Nigerians that extraordinary effort and achievement are seen, valued, and championed.
Yet, as the echoes of that well-deserved recognition reverberate, a stark question remains: Where is the honour for another group of deserving Nigerians—our wounded soldiers whose heroism is less visible but no less vital?
For more than a decade, Nigerian troops have faced unimaginably harsh conditions defending the nation, particularly in the relentless fight against Boko Haram and other insurgents. These soldiers patrol hostile territories, endure ambushes, and confront life-threatening situations daily. Unlike athletes whose feats light up stadiums, these soldiers’ victories are often silent, their injuries hidden behind stoic faces. When limbs are lost, bodies broken, and trauma inflicted, their sacrifices too often dissolve into obscurity—without state recognition or substantial care.
This disparity is painfully unjust.
While the Super Falcons’ triumph was riotously celebrated with presidential honours and substantial rewards, many soldiers who have sustained permanent injuries on the front lines have yet to receive such validation. Those who bear the scars of war do not merely deserve our gratitude in words but require tangible support—recognition that honours their sacrifice in material, lasting ways. Many soldiers injured in combat live with precarious futures, their families bearing the heavy burden of care amid limited government assistance.
Mr President, we respectfully implore you: extend the same generosity and national celebration you bestowed on the Super Falcons to our wounded soldiers. Let this gesture shift from symbolic to systemic in recognising those whose battlefield sacrifices underpin the country’s safety and sovereignty.
Specifically, we urge the federal government to:
Confer national honours on soldiers permanently injured in combat and those who have demonstrated conspicuous gallantry. These honours would publicly acknowledge their courage and commitment, affirming their place in the nation’s story.
Award housing grants comparable to those given to the Super Falcons—three-bedroom apartments for wounded soldiers and their families, providing security and dignity.
Provide substantial cash compensation to aid in the reconstruction of lives disrupted by injury and disability, alleviating economic hardship resultant from their service.
This plea is not one of rivalry but of justice and parity. Football may be the soul of Nigerian unity on the pitch, but our soldiers are the backbone of that unity in reality. Without their courage and sacrifice, the nation’s very survival would be at stake.
Our children deserve to grow up witnessing a Nigeria that honours all heroes equally—whether their bravery is measured in goals scored or battles fought. Celebrating our football champions without similarly celebrating our war veterans sends an incomplete message. Honour must be holistic, encompassing every Nigerian who puts the country above self.
Mr President, your gesture toward the Super Falcons was inspiring. Now, the nation waits for a landmark decision to also honour the wounded warriors who keep our flag flying in far more dangerous arenas.
Let Nigeria be united not only in applause but in action. Let the nation rise to honour every hero—on fields of sport and fields of war—with equal pride and heartfelt recognition.
The nation watches, hopes, and prays.
