President Muhammadu Buhari Tuesday, conferred national honours awards, medals and insignia on 442 Nigerians and seven foreigners for their selfless service to the country.
On the list of awardees were Chairman of THISDAY/ARISE Group, Prince Nduka Obaigbena, who was conferred the Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON) honours award; Senate President, Dr Ahmad Lawan; Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Olukayode Ariwoola; former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Ibrahim Tanko Muhammad; former Finance Minister and Director Generalof the World Trade Organisation, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala; Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations (UN), Ms. Amina J. Mohammed and Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Prof Tijjani Muhammad-Bande who were all decorated with the medal of Grand Commander of the Order of the Order of the Niger (GCON), Nigeria’s second highest national honour.
Others were Governor Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State; Director General of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala; Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Ishaq Oloyede; the Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola; Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State, President’s late Chief of Staff, Abba Kyari amongst others.
Others were awarded 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).
The Group Chief Executive of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, Mele Kyari received the officer of the Order of the Federal Republic (OFR) medal.