The President, Muhammadu Buhari, has arrived at the International Conference Centre, ICC, Abuja, for the National Honours Awards Ceremony
Buhari arrived at 10:13 am and was ushered into the premises by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and other senior officials.
The National Honours Awards was established by the National Honours Act of No 6 in 1964. However, it took retroactive effect from October 1, 1963.
The Act empowers the President by warranting, the Nigerian Order of Dignity to honour deserving citizens who have contributed to the development of and progress of the country in any field of endeavour.
447 citizens and foreigners labelled as “Nigerians and Friends of Nigeria,” will receive various honours ranging from the Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger (GCON), Commander of the Order of Niger (CON), and others.
Some of the 13 persons who will be honoured posthumously include former Chief of Staff to the President, Abba Kyari, former Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru and Aircraft Man Matthew Oyedepo, the latter two who died in a fatal plane crash in May 2021.
The recipients will be awarded the Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger (GCON), Commander of the Order of the Federal Republic (CFR) and Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON).
Some of the recipients to be awarded include: Jim Ovia, chairman of Zenith Bank; Herbert Wigwe, Access Bank CEO, Mike Ozekhome, a senior advocate of Nigeria (SAN)
Governor Ifeanyi Okowa will also be conferred with the national award of the Commander of the Order of Niger, CON.
Others to be conferred with national honours also are Mele Kyari, managing director of Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited; Nduka Obaigbena, founder of ThisDay and Arise Media Group, and Samson Ayokunle, former chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN).
Abba Kyari, the former chief of staff to the president, received a posthumous CFR award which was presented to his daughter.
Hon Justice Olukayode Ariwoola; Hon Justice Ibrahim Tanko Muhammad; Dr Ngozi Okonjo Iweala; Ms Amina J. Mohammed, and Prof Tijjani Muhammad-Bande will get the highest honour of Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger (GCON) out of the total 447 awardees.
Also, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila; Deputy Senate President Sen. Ovie Omo-Agege; Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) Boss Mustapha; Dr Folashade Yemi-Esan; former speaker Yakubu Dogara; Justice Kudirat M. Kekere-Ekun; Justice Musa Dattijo Muhammad; Justice Monica Bolna’an and Donghan Mansem will get the second highest honour of Commander Of the Order Of the Federal Republic (CFR).
Governor Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State, Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State, Director General of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Ishaq Oloyede, will also be conferred with national honours.
In attendance are Senate President Ahmed Laman, the President’s Chief of Staff, Professor Ibrahim Gambari, Service Chiefs, the Inspector-General of Police several ministers including the Minister of Special Duties and Intergovernmental Affairs, George Akume.
Others are Traditional Rulers including the Emir of Lafia, Sidi Mohammad, who is the Chairman of the National Honours Awards Committee Secretary of the 2022 National Honours Awards Investiture and members of the diplomatic corps.
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