On Thursday, President Bola Tinubu approved reforms to improve the Nigeria Police Force’s financial structure and authorised the awarding of 959 national honours.
This unfolded while he was presiding over lengthy sessions of the Police Council and the National Council of State at State House in Abuja.
Following the meetings, Dr. Emanso Umobong, Permanent Secretary of the Cabinet Affairs Office, told State House correspondents that the President had approved the National Honours Award Committee’s report for 2024 and 2025 as well as special awards that the President had previously given out from January 2025 onwards.
After reviewing more than 5,000 applications, the current honours committee, which was reorganised in August 2021 and is led by Justice Sidi Bage, recommended 824 honourees for the 2024–2025 National Honours and 135 exceptional awardees, for a total of 959 honourees, according to Umobong.
“The President honours deserving nationals and non-nationals who have distinguished themselves in the service of the nation and humanity every year by awarding titles of honour and decorations of dignitaries,” she said.
“A total of 824 successful applicants were recommended for the 2024/2025 National Honours and 135 special awards by the President, bringing it to a total of 959 awardees after rigorous screening and selection by the committee,” Umobong continued.
“In the spirit of inclusive national recognition,” she said, “President Tinubu has already honoured a number of notable Nigerians and Nigerian friends in the past year, such as Bill Gates for his contributions to public health, Uncle Sam Pemu for his journalism, and the Super Falcons and D’Tigress for their excellence in sports.”
Others include Professor Mahmood Yakubu, the departing INEC Chairman, who was awarded for his contributions to Nigeria’s democratic process, and the Ogoni Nine and Ogoni Four, who were honoured posthumously for their environmental advocacy.
