The National Council of State has approved the report of the National Honours Award Committee for the years 2024 and 2025, along with special awards conferred by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu from January 2025 to date.
Permanent Secretary, Cabinet Affairs Office, Dr. Emanso Umobong, disclosed this while briefing journalists after the Council’s meeting at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
He explained that President Tinubu had in 2021 reconstituted the National Honours Award Committee, chaired by His Royal Highness, Justice Sidi Bage Mohammed.
The committee screened over 5,000 nominations and recommended 824 Nigerians and friends of Nigeria for national honours, in addition to 135 special presidential awards, bringing the total number of honorees to 959.
Dr. Umobong noted that this year’s honourees include global philanthropist Bill Gates, veteran journalist Uncle Sam Amuka Pemu, the late Ogoni Nine and Ogoni Four, the Super Falcons, D’Tigress, and former INEC Chairman Professor Mahmood Yakubu, among others, for their service to the nation and humanity.
He added that the full list of awardees will soon be made public.
Meanwhile, Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani clarified that the Presidential pardon granted under the prerogative of mercy covered the late Ogoni Nine and Ogoni Four.
Also speaking, Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma said the Council acknowledged ongoing security challenges and expressed support for measures to strengthen the Nigerian Police to effectively combat crime nationwide.
Bello Wakili
