Achebe, Emeagwali, 189 others bag national honours
Michael Faloseyi, Abuja
Minister of Inter-governmental Affairs, Special Duties and Youth Development, Mr. Frank Nweke, (Jnr.) on Thursday announced the award of national honours to 191 Nigerians and foreigners.
One of the recipients is the former Head of the defunct Interim National Government, Chief Ernest Shonekan, who was given the highest award of the Grand Commander of the Federal Republic.
Six other Nigerians, including the literary giant, Prof. Chinua Achebe; business mogul, Chief Sunny Odogwu; and Deputy President of the Senate, Alhaji Ibrahim Mantu, were awarded the Commander of the Order of the Federal Republic.
Also in this category are the Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Alfred Achebe; former Chief of Army Staff, Maj.-Gen. Alwali Kazir; and Etsu of Nupe, Alhaji Yahaya Abubakar.
Twenty-three Nigerians including four traditional rulers � the Ataoja of Osogbo, Oba Iyiola Matanmi; Timi of Ede, Oba Oladokun Oyewusi; Olu of Warri, Ogiame Atuwatse II; Ata III of Ebiraland, Ado Ibrahim, also received the CON award.
Other recipients in the CON category are Chief Tanimose Bankole-Oki; Maj.-Gen. Chris Garba rtd; Esama of Benin, Chief Gabriel Igbinedion; Ambassador G.B Preware; Justices A.I. Katsina-Alu; U.A. Kalgo; S.O. Uwaifo; and A.O. Ejiwumi.
The Vice-Chancellor, University of Lagos, Prof. Oyewusi Ibidapo-Obe, was among 48 Nigerians awarded the Order of the Federal Republic. Others in that category include Alhaji Alade Odunewu; Ambassador Segun Olusola; and distinguished inventor, Dr. Philip Chukwura Emeagwali; and the chief executive of Zinox Computers, Mr. Leo Stan Ekeh.
Fifty-six Nigerians were awarded Officer of the Order of the Niger, 44 for Member of the Order of the Federal Republic, while 13 were awarded Member of the Order of the Niger.
Nweke said that investiture ceremony would hold on December 16.
He said that the awardees were shortlisted among 1,504 applications received for the various categories, about 404 applications higher than the previous year�s.
Nweke said efforts were made to ensure that all segments of the society had equal opportunity for the awards, including gender consideration.
He said that new matrices like character, career, education, outstanding achievement, contribution to Nigeria, quality or type of nomination and recognition were introduced in this year�s assessment.
