President Muhammadu Buhari has conferred National Honours on 339 notable Nigerians, including a former secretary general of the Commonwealth, Emeka Anyaoku; 10 Supreme Court justices; Emir of Dutse Hamim Nuhu-Sanusi; CBN governor Godwin Emefiele; minister of Communication and Digital Economy Isah Pantami and his Aviation counterpart, Hadi Sirika and; the president’s nephew, Mamman Daura.
The awardees were announced in a list signed by the permanent secretary, Federal Ministry of Special Duties and Inter-governmental Affairs, Ibiene Roberts, on Sunday.
While Mr Anyaoku was conferred with the Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger, GCON, the Emir of Dutse, 10 justices of the Supreme Court, governor of CBN, president’s nephew, minister of Aviation Hadi Sirika, among others were conferred with Commander of the Order of the Federal Republic, CFR.
Others conferred with CFR are chief executive officer of Access Holdings, Herbert Wigwe; and former secretary general of the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, OPEC, Mohammed Barkindo (posthumously).
Also, minister of Communications and Digital Economy Isa Pantami, Minister of Interior , Rauf Aregbesola, Wife of the President-elect Remi Tinubu, Minister of State Labour and Employment, Festus Keyamo, and Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, were among those conferred with the Commander of the Order of Niger, CON.
Others who were conferred with the Office of the Order of the Niger, OON, are senior special assistant to the president on media and publicity, Garba Shehu; a renowned politician, Mohammed Jamu; Nigerian Ambassador to Germany, Yusuf Tugar, and special assistant on media and publicity to the outgoing vice president, Laolu Akande.
According to the statement, “all award recipients are to send hard and soft copies of their citations/resumes to the secretary of the National Honours Award Committee, Federal Ministry of Duties and Intergovernmental Affairs, on or before Wednesday, May 31, 2023.
“They will therefore come to the FMSDIGA office located at the federal secretariat, phase 1, Central Business District, for collection of their certificates and medals on Thursday, June 1, 2023”.
