President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday in Abuja, conferred
National Honours on 450 Nigerians and non-Nigerians, among them Director
General of the World Trade Organisation, Dr Ngozi Okonjo Iweala, Deputy
Secretary-General of UN, Amina Mohammed and Nigeria’s Permanent Representative
to the UN, Prof Tijjani Muhammad-Bande.
Others who made the honours lists include renowned novelist,
Chimamanda Adichie, Senate President Ahmed Lawan, Acting Chief Justice of
Nigeria (CJN), Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, immediate past CJN, Justice Ibrahim
Tanko Muhammad among others.
Buhari justified the honours, saying the awardees had
distinguished themselves in the service of the nation and humanity.
He asserted that citizens who contribute to national
development deserve to be encouraged and appreciated.
The President who is billed to bow out of office as
President on May 29th 2023, restated his resolve to restore total security to
Nigerians, saying he would surely bequeath a secured nation to the next
generation.
Leading the 2022 National Honours Award recipients, in the
category of Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger (GCON) are Senate
President Ahmed Lawan, Acting Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Olukayode
Ariwoola, immediate past CJN, Justice Ibrahim Tanko Muhammad, Director-General,
World Trade Organisation (WTO), Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Deputy Secretary-General
of UN, Amina Mohammed and Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Prof
Tijjani Muhammad-Bande.
The President lauded the National Awards Committee headed by
Justice Sidi Bage Muhammad I, a retired Justice of the Supreme Court, the Emir
of Lafia, for a great and patriotic duty by diligently going through over 5,000
submissions and coming up with these recommendations.
He noted that the screening and selection of nominees for
this year’s award as always, followed established broad criteria, in accordance
with the National Honours Act CAP.N43 of the Laws of the Federation of Nigeria
2004.
He listed the criteria that qualified the recipients of the
awards, to include but not limited to; consistent and meaningful participation
in community and/or national development; rendering unsolicited, selfless and
philanthropic services to humanity; outstanding sacrifice in the defence of a
cause popularly adjudged to be positive, relevant and beneficial to the nation
and community.
Others are distinct acts of bravery in the protection and/or
defence of national interest, public peace, and safety of life and property,
including remarkable achievement in any field of expertise where the person’s activities
in that field have made significant contributions to the attainment of national
goals and objectives.
Immense contributions towards the upliftment of the
community, state, nation and/or humanity through achievements by way of
inventions and bringing outstanding honour and glory to the state through
personal dedication and patriotic commitment. Service with integrity is also a
basis for the selection process.
The President also noted that genuine nation-building
involves a lot of sacrifice by the citizenry, hence citizens who contribute to
national development deserve to be encouraged and appreciated.
He lauded the 2022 National Award recipients for
distinguishing themselves in various ways ‘‘for the purpose of recreating a new
Nigeria of our dreams through respect for the rule of law, image laundering,
transparency and accountability in the management of scarce resources.’’
The President had also noted that those in the private
sector have also creditably discharged themselves in business, entertainment,
hospitality, transportation and other forms of human endeavours to transform
Nigeria.
The National Honours which was held at the International
Conference Centre Abuja marks the first time the Buhari administration will be
conferring honours on Nigerians who have distinguished themselves in various
callings, it might also be the last for the government.
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