President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday conferred national honours Okonjo-Iwela, Governor Rotimi Akeredolu, 2 face Idibia among 434 other prominent Nigerians.
The event began after Buhari was ushered into the premises at about 10:13 am by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and other senior officials.
In attendance were Senate President Ahmed Laman, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, Chief Justice of Nigeria Olukayode Ariwoola, the President’s Chief of Staff, Professor Ibrahim Gambari, Service Chiefs, the Inspector-General of Police several ministers including the Minister of Special Duties and Intergovernmental Affairs, George Akume.
Others were Traditional Rulers including the Emir of Lafia, Sidi Mohammad, who is the Chairman of the National Honours Awards Committee Secretary of the 2022 National Honours Awards Investiture and members of the diplomatic corps.
Out of the 437 nominees, five persons were listed for Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger (GCON), 54 persons for Commander of the Order of the Federal Republic (CFR) and 67 for the Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON).
Others are 64 for Officer of the Order of the Federal Republic (OFR), 101 for Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON), 75 for Member of the Order of the Federal Republic (MFR), 56 for Member of the Order of the Niger (MON) and eight for Federal Republic Medal (FRM).
Late Chief of Staff to President Buhari, Abba Kyari was honoured posthumously with the CFR.
Recipients for GCON include Mrs Okonjo-Iweala, Senate President, Ahmad Lawan; Chief Justice of Nigeria, Kayode Ariwoola, his predecessor; Tanko Muhammad and UN Deputy Secretary General; Amina Mohammed.
Recipients for CFR include Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila; Chief of Defence Staff, Lucky Irabor; former Speaker, Yakubu Dogara, and Appeal Court president, Monica Mensem, and former Army Chief, Tukur Buratai.
Others are Inspector General of Police, Usman Alkali, his predecessor, Mohammed Adamu, Emir of Lafia, Sidi Bage, and Tor Tiv, James Ayatse, amongst others.
Some nominees for CON are the Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Ishaq Oloyede and state governors such as Mai Mala-Buni (Yobe), Atiku Bagudu (Kebbi), Simon Lalong (Plateau), Ifeanyi Okowa (Delta), Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu), Dave Umahi (Ebonyi) and Nasir El-Rufai (Kaduna).
Others are Babagana Zulum (Borno), Kayode Fayemi (Ekiti), Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives; Idris Wase, Finance minister, Zainab Ahmed and her works counterpart, Babatunde Fashola, amongst others.
OFR
Nominees in this category include the Catholic Archbishop of Abuja, Ignatius Kaigama, CEO of the NNPCL, Mele Kyari, Nasiru Bayero and Muiz Banire.
Others are Ishaq Bello, Aliyu El-Nafaty and Kehinde Aina, amongst others.
OON
Some nominees in this category include National Assembly members such as Alhassan Doguwa, Muktar Betara, Ndudi Elumelu and Nkiruka Onyejeocha.
Others are a former Permanent Secretary, Sunday Echono, NBA President Yakubu Maikyau, Sarki Abba and Sabiu (Tunde) Yusuf, amongst others.
MFR
In this category of the national honours awards are Sanusi Lemu, late DIGJoseph Egunike (posthumous), Haliru Nababa and Burna Boy.
Others are Simon Shango, Billy Okoye, Akwa Okon and Emeka Agbanari, amongst others.
MON
Notable in this category is 2Face Idibia, Shehu Othman, Teni the entertainer and Abubakar Maikano.
Other recipients are serving and former governors, serving and former presiding officers of the National Assembly, serving and former Chief Justices of Nigeria and serving and former members of the National Assembly.
In addition, serving and former service chiefs, traditional rulers, retired public servants, lawyers, philanthropists, businessmen, ministers, entertainers and members of the academia.
