Council Of State Endorses 959 National Honours By Tinubu

The National Council of State has approved the study of the National Honours Award Committee for 2024 and 2025, endorsing a full of 959 recipients, including eminent Nigerians, friends of Nigeria, and nationalist heroes recognised by President Bola Tinubu.

The Permanent Secretary, Cabinet Affairs Office, Dr. Emanso Umobong, disclosed this portion briefing State House correspondents aft the Council of State gathering held connected Thursday astatine the Presidential Villa successful Abuja.

Dr. Umobong explained that the study covered some the 2024/2025 nationalist honours and peculiar awards conferred by President Tinubu from January 2025 to date.

“The Council contiguous approved the study of the National Honours Award Committee for the years 2024 and 2025, arsenic good arsenic the peculiar awards earlier bestowed by the President betwixt January 2025 and now,” she said.

She recalled that the President had antecedently approved the reconstitution of the National Honours Award Committee, chaired by His Royal Highness, Justice Sidi Bage Mohammed (rtd), the Emir of Lafia and erstwhile Justice of the Supreme Court.

According to her, the committee—comprising eminent Nigerians—screened implicit 5,000 applications and recommended 824 persons for nationalist honours and 135 for peculiar statesmanlike awards, bringing the full fig of honourees to 959.

“The grant of titles of honour and decorations is an yearly nationalist lawsuit astatine which the President recognises and celebrates deserving citizens and friends of Nigeria who person distinguished themselves successful the work of the federation and humanity,” Dr. Umobong said.

She added that the reconstituted committee met respective times to guarantee a fair, transparent, and merit-based enactment process.

“In the tone of inclusive nationalist recognition, President Bola Tinubu has conferred nationalist honours connected respective deserving Nigerians and friends of Nigeria this year,” she said.

Among those honoured were Bill Gates, for his contributions to nationalist wellness and humanitarian enactment successful Nigeria; the Ogoni Nine, honoured posthumously for their biology activism and sacrifice; and the Ogoni Four, recognised for their relation successful the conflict for biology justice.

Others included Uncle Sam Amuka-Pemu, seasoned writer and publisher; Professor Mahmood Yakubu, contiguous past Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), for his work to Nigeria’s antiauthoritarian process; and the Super Falcons and D’Tigress hoops team, for their achievements successful sports and planetary representation.

Dr. Umobong said the afloat database of honourees would beryllium published shortly.

“The committee has completed its work, and the Council has fixed its endorsement. The database of palmy candidates volition beryllium made nationalist soon,” she added.