President Buhari Confers National Honours On 447 Nigerians, Friends

Oluwatobiloba Amusan the 25-year-old hurdler who won the 100m hurdles gold at the Oregon 2022 World Athletics Championships was among the 447 Nigerians and friends of the country conferred national honours by president Muhammadu Buhari.

president Buhari also approved National Honours and N200 million cash awards for Team Nigeria contingents to the 2022 Commonwealth Games and World Athletics championships for their outstanding performances at both competitions, Oluwatobiloba Amusan and Ese Brume are now recipients of Nigeria’s National Honour, the Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON).

Speaking yesterday, at a presidential reception at the Banquet Hall of the State House, Abuja, in honour of the athletes, the president said his government was committed to rewarding excellence, no less for members of Team Nigeria who ignited the spirit of victory in the nation through stellar performances at international competitions.

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

The recipients were awarded with 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.

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