On Tuesday, President Muhammadu Bubari conferred the Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON) honours award on the Chairman of THISDAY/ARISE Group, Prince Nduka Obaigbena, at a colourful ceremony in Abuja. 442 other Nigerians and seven foreigners also received national honours, awards, medals and insignia for their selfless services to the country. Top on the list of other awardees are 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 General of 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.
Speaking after conferring the honours on the distinguished Nigerians and foreigners, President Buhari stressed the need for all to do their best for Nigeria and also reiterated the commitment of the Federal Government, under his leadership, to put an end to all forms of banditry, criminality, terrorism and insurgency in the land. He reaffirmed his solemn pledge in his Independence Day address to the nation of handing over a Nigeria that is free from insecurity to the next generation of leaders. The President said: “We will continue to root out all forms of banditry, criminality, terrorism and insurgency in the land. As I stated earlier in my Independence address to the nation, I will hand over a Nigeria that is free from insecurity to the next generation of leaders.”
The President said citizens who contribute to national development deserve to be encouraged and appreciated. He also commended the National Awards Committee headed by Justice Sidi Bage Muhammad I, a retired Justice of the Supreme Court, the Emir of Lafia, for a great and patriotic duty by diligently going through over 5,000 submissions and coming up with these recommendations.
