5000 nominees were considered for national honours, says FG

George Akume, minister of special duties and intergovernmental affairs, says the national honours awards committee selected 447 awardees from 5000 nominees submitted for consideration.

Akume spoke on Tuesday at the 2022 National Honours Award Investiture that took place at the International Conference Centre in Abuja.

President Muhammadu Buhari conferred national titles on 447 Nigerians and friends of the country.

The recipients were 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 present at the event are Jim Ovia, chairman of Zenith Bank; Herbert Wigwe, Access Bank CEO, and Mike Ozekhome, a senior advocate of Nigeria (SAN).

Others 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.

Attahiru Ibrahim, the former chief of army staff, was also awarded a posthumous honour.

Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo and Ibrahim Gambari, the president’s chief of staff, were present at the event.