Meet 17-year-old Nafisa Aminu, winner of global English contest

Nafisa Abdullah Aminu, a brilliant 17-year-old student from Yobe State, has captured global attention after emerging as the overall best in English Language Skills at the 2025 TeenEagle Global Finals held in London, United Kingdom.

The competition featured over 20,000 contestants from 69 countries, including native English-speaking nations making Nafisa’s victory not only historic but also deeply inspiring.

Academic journey

Nafisa is a student of the Nigerian Tulip International College (NTIC), a school known for grooming top-performing students across science, arts, and language disciplines.

Her passion for language, communication, and critical thinking became evident early on, with teachers praising her commitment to excellence and intellectual curiosity.

Her journey to the TeenEagle finals was the culmination of years of academic discipline, strong mentoring, and unwavering determination.

TeenEagle competition

The TeenEagle Global Finals is an internationally respected competition that evaluates participants on their English language proficiency, critical thinking, and communication skills.

It attracts students from both English-speaking and non-English-speaking countries, making it one of the most competitive platforms of its kind.

Nafisa’s win, against thousands of students globally, especially from countries where English is the mother tongue, has positioned her as a rising star in global academic circles.

Family

Her father figure and family head, Hassan Salifu, expressed immense pride in her achievement, attributing it to her discipline and the solid educational environment provided by her school and state.

“Our daughter’s success reflects not only her dedication but also the visionary support for education by His Excellency, Governor Mai Mala Buni,” Salifu noted. “This win has brought international honour to Yobe and Nigeria.”

Her win has sparked widespread celebrations in her hometown and across Nigeria, with many praising the role of quality education in shaping future leaders.

Recognition

Her accomplishment has Nafisa’s accomplishment has since stirred public calls for her to be honoured at both state and national levels, with many seeing her as a beacon of Nigeria’s vast but underutilised academic potential.

Her victory has rekindled national conversations about the potential of Nigerian youth when given access to the right resources and support systems.

While Nafisa has remained grounded and humble, those close to her say she’s passionate about global engagement and aspires to use her voice and language skills to advocate for educational advancement in underserved communities.