By Cross Udo and Nathaniel Zacchaeus
President Muhammadu Buhari said yesterday in Abuja that citizens who contribute to national development deserve to be encouraged and appreciated.
The President stated this when he conferred National Honours on 450 Nigerians and non-Nigerians, who have distinguished themselves in the service of the nation and humanity.
He also assured that he would hand over a Nigeria that is free from insecurity to the next generation of leaders.
Buhari reiterated the determination of his administration to continue to root out all forms of banditry, criminality, terrorism, and insurgency in the country.
He said, “The National Honours are not merely decorative. They remind us of an important part of our responsibility as citizens.
”We must always endeavour to do our best for our country. We will continue to root out all forms of banditry, criminality, terrorism, and insurgency in the land.
”As I stated earlier in my Independence address to the nation, I will hand over a Nigeria that is free from insecurity to the next generation of leaders.”
Leading the 2022 National Honours Award recipients, in the category of Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger (GCON) are Senate President Ahmad 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 Tijani Muhammad-Bande.
The President at the event commended the National Awards Committee headed by Justice Sidi Bage Muhammad, 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.
The President noted that the screening and selection of nominees for this year’s award always followed established broad criteria, under the National Honours Act CAP.N43 of the Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.
They include, but are 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.”
Other criteria listed by the President for selecting the recipients are: “Distinct act of bravery in the protection and/or defence of national interest, public peace, the safety of life and property.
“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 uplift of 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.”
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Emphasising that nation-building involves a lot of sacrifice by the citizenry, the President declared that citizens who contribute to national development deserve to be encouraged and appreciated.
He, therefore, lauded the 2022 National Award recipients for distinguishing themselves in various ways ‘‘to recreate a new Nigeria of our dreams through respect for the rule of law, image laundering, transparency and accountability in the management of scarce resources.’’
Equally, the President added 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.
“We have amongst the recipients today, Ambassador Tijjani Muhammad-Bande, Dr Ngozi Okonjo Iweala, Ms Amina Mohammed, and Chimamanda Adichie, who are doing our country proud on the international scene. Our dear sisters are a source of inspiration to our young women that through the dint of hard work and dedication, they can achieve greatness.
“We also have on the list, Imam Abdullahi Abubakar, a religious leader who hid over 262 Christians in his mosque from attacks in Yelwa Gindi Akwati village, in Plateau State. He is a good example of the religious tolerance we preach amongst Nigerians. I am excited that he is being honoured today with Member of the Order of the Federal Republic (MFR).
“Worthy of mention are our artistes, particularly, our very Damini Ebunoluwa Ogulu (Burna Boy), who won the Grammy Awards in 2020. He along with other artistes has repositioned the Nigerian entertainment industry and placed it on the global map. At the just concluded Dubai Expo 2020, Nigeria’s pavilion was a beehive of activities as our musicians entertained guests from around the world.
“Despite the present economic challenges, Nigeria still boasts of men and women of integrity; Ms. Josephine Agu, an airport cleaner returned $12,200 found in a toilet at Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos as well as Ogbanago Muhammed Ibrahim, a bank security man who found and returned $10,000.
“Today, we celebrate their dignity and strong strength of character by conferring National Honours on them. They are a shining example to our younger generation. I congratulate all the recipients today who will be joining the league of Awardees.
“I appreciate the non-Nigerian recipients and assure all of you that this administration will continue to provide the enabling environment for you to undertake your lawful businesses to allow you to sustain your efforts at contributing to the development of our nation, Nigeria,” he said.
The President acknowledged that the list of awardees is justifiably long because the exercise has not been carried out since 2015.
He recalled that since the inception of this administration, there has not been such occasion like this where individuals and friends of Nigeria have been so singled out for investiture except for the Special Investiture Ceremony in honour of Chief MKO Abiola, Alhaji Babagana Kingibe and Chief Gani Fawehinmi, SAN.
The President noted that the investiture ceremony for Abiola and others was especially carried out to right the wrong done in the past, “to assuage our feelings and to resolve to stand firm now and in the future for the sanctity of the electoral process and our democracy.”
In like manner, he said, the country’s athletes were also honoured recently for their spectacular performances in several competitions.
He appealed to other Nigerians who are yet to receive this recognition to be patient and understand that their efforts in nation-building are appreciated and at the right time, would similarly be recognised.
“This administration will continue to partner with Nigerians and friends of Nigeria with like minds in our efforts to build the Nigeria of our dreams where everybody will strive to excel in their chosen fields devoid of parochial sentiments,” he said.
Buhari also used the occasion to remind the recipients and other Nigerians that National Honours are not merely decorative, saying:
“They remind us of an important part of our responsibility as citizens. We must always endeavour to do our best for our country.”
The award, which is in 10 categories, was presented to Supreme Court Justices, judges, top lawyers, incumbent and former governors, Ministers, traditional rulers, creative artistes, politicians, businessmen, athletes, and security officers who died in the line of duty, and other distinguished Nigerians.
A total of six persons were conferred with GCON, 55 received Commander of the Order of the Federal Republic (CFR), 65 got the Commander of the Order of Niger (CON), 77 were presented with the Officer of the Order of the Federal Republic (OFR); 110 received the Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON); 74 were presented with Member of the Order of the Federal Republic (MFR) and 55 received Member of the Order of the Niger (MON).
There were four recipients each for the Federal Republic Medal I (FRM I) and Federal Republic Medal II (FRM II) Second Class) respectively.
The seven foreigners honoured received the OFR Award.
*It’s a call to duty, Senate President responds on behalf of the recipients
Speaking on behalf of the Awardees, the Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, said the conferment of national honours on him and his fellow awardees was an additional call to service.
Lawan was conferred with the national honour of the Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger (GCON).
He spoke on behalf of the other 446 awardees at the event.
The Senate President said the award was an additional call to service. It is a call to duty and an invitation to realise that citizens’ efforts will not be in vain.
He said, “We are therefore inspired, motivated, and admonished to keep up our inputs, as stakeholders in the building of a virile nation.
“This is why I call on awardees to be steadfast, considering the responsibility that comes with the honours. This obligation is one of leadership, more work, and the provision of inspiration to others,” Lawan said.
The Senate President thanked President Buhari for the honour done to them through the awards.
Lawan said, “The careful and painstaking selection is another evidence of Mr. President’s readiness to recognise excellence and service to nation-building, in line with his zeal to inspire citizens and to encourage as many others as possible for the future.
“The task of building a nation is a continuous and collective effort. It is continuous because it is a never-ending process that needs increasing energies irrespective of the level of development that has been attained.
“It is also collective because it is a duty that desires all hands to be on deck, given the fact that it is a delicate balance at harmonizing groups towards emotional harmony, growth, and development.
“The two dimensions involve the contributions of citizens who are supposed to be faithful, loyal, and committed to the common goal. Amongst the citizens are leaders and drivers of the process, who should occasionally be identified for recognition.
“The recognition should however be thorough and laborious in what would reflect due service to the fatherland, as an encouragement to more work and as a motivation for others.
“Today’s event is one more instalment in this process of acknowledgments, which Mr. President has methodically carried out.
“I, therefore, thank Mr. President on behalf of all the awardees, as we are most excited at the privilege of the prestigious honour.
“Rest assured that we shall remain unwavering in our support for your efforts at transforming our dear fatherland, for the good of present and future generations.
“There is no gainsaying the fact that our country has witnessed many challenges in the last couple of years. The challenges have been changing and calling for urgent actions.
“They include insecurity, dwindling resources, climate change, and the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic and have no doubt been distracting. Your administration has tackled them headlong.
“We are assured that lingering issues shall also be with in equal measure given the continued resolve of the present administration under the able leadership of Mr. President.”
