President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved national honours for 959 Nigerians and friends of the country in recognition of their outstanding contributions to national development and humanity.
The announcement came after Thursday’s Council of State meeting held at the Presidential Villa, Abuja. Speaking to journalists, the Permanent Secretary of the Cabinet Affairs Office, Dr. Emanso Umobong, explained that the approval covers both the 2024 and 2025 National Honours, as well as special awards conferred by the President from January 2025 to date.
“The Council today approved the report of the National Honours Award Committee for the years 2024 and 2025, along with the special awards earlier bestowed by the President between January 2025 and now,” Dr. Umobong said.
She recalled that President Tinubu had, in August 2021, reconstituted the National Honours Award Committee, chaired by His Royal Highness Justice Sidi Bage Mohammed (rtd), the Emir of Lafia and a former Justice of the Supreme Court. The committee, made up of eminent Nigerians, reviewed over 5,000 applications before recommending 824 individuals for national honours and 135 for special presidential awards, bringing the total number of recipients to 959.
Dr. Umobong noted that the national honours ceremony is an annual tradition where the President celebrates citizens and friends of Nigeria who have made exceptional contributions to national growth, peace, and human development. She emphasized that this year’s selection was based on fairness, transparency, and merit.
“In the spirit of inclusive national recognition, President Bola Tinubu has honoured several deserving Nigerians and friends of Nigeria this year,” she said.
Among those honoured are Bill Gates, for his humanitarian work and public health support in Nigeria; the Ogoni Nine, honoured posthumously for their environmental activism and sacrifice; and the Ogoni Four, recognised for their fight for environmental justice.
Others include veteran journalist and publisher Uncle Sam Amuka-Pemu; Professor Mahmood Yakubu, former INEC Chairman, for his service to democracy; and the Super Falcons and D’Tigress teams, for their excellence in sports and international representation.
The highest honour, the Grand Commander of the Order of the Federal Republic (GCFR), is traditionally reserved for presidents such as Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Goodluck Jonathan. The Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger (GCON) is typically conferred on Vice Presidents, Senate Presidents, Speakers, Chief Justices, and notable figures like Aliko Dangote and Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala.
Other categories include the Commander of the Order of the Federal Republic (CFR), awarded to distinguished business leaders like Bill Gates; and the Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON), for outstanding public and corporate service. Mid-tier honours like the Officer of the Order of the Federal Republic (OFR) and Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON) go to professionals, academics, and entertainers such as Mo Abudu and Taiwo Ajai-Lycett.
Meanwhile, the Member of the Order of the Federal Republic (MFR) and Member of the Order of the Niger (MON) recognise grassroots contributors and young achievers, including artists like Burna Boy and Teniola Apata.
There are also special awards such as the Nigerian National Order of Merit (NNOM) for academic excellence and the Federal Republic Medal (FRM) for acts of bravery by military and police officers.
Do you believe Nigeria’s national honours still truly reflect exceptional contributions at all levels of society? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
