President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has conferred national honours on notable Nigerians, including Nobel Laureate Prof. Wole Soyinka, human rights lawyer Femi Falana, slain environmental activist Ken Saro-Wiwa, and Catholic Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah.
The announcement came during the President’s address to a joint session of the National Assembly in Abuja on Thursday. Tinubu said the awards recognise the recipients’ “unwavering commitment to democracy, justice, press freedom, and national development.”
Prof. Soyinka was decorated with the Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger (GCON), Nigeria’s second-highest national honour. Others received titles such as Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON), Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON), and Commander of the Federal Republic (CFR).
The honourees include journalists, legal luminaries, civil rights activists, political figures, and several posthumous awardees, particularly from the Niger Delta struggle. The full awardees are: Prof. Wole Soyinka (GCON), Prof. Olatunji Dare (CON), Kunle Ajibade (OON), Nosa Igiebor (OON), Dapo Olorunyomi (OON), Bayo Onanuga (CON), Ayo Obe (OON), Dare Babarinsa (CON), Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah (CON), Senator Shehu Sani (CON), Governor Uba Sani (CON), Barrister Femi Falana, SAN (CON), Prof. Shafideen Amuwo (CON), Barrister Luke Aghanenu (OON), Senator Tokunbo Afikuyomi (CON), Hon. Labaran Maku (OON), Dr. Tunji Alausa (CON), Mr. Nick Dazang (OON), Hon. Abdul Oroh (OON), Odia Ofeimun (CON), Seye Kehinde (OON)Barrister Felix Morka (CON), Barrister Ledum Mitee (CON), Hon. Olawale Osun (CON), Dr. Amos Akingba (CON), Prof. Segun Gbadegesin (CON), Mobolaji Akinyemi (CFR), Dr. Kayode Shonoiki (CON), Prof. Julius Ihonvbere (CON), Prof. Bayo Williams (CON), Senator Abu Ibrahim (CFR)Senator Ame Ebute (CFR), Uncle Sam Amuka-Pemu, Ken Saro-Wiwa (CON, posthumous)Saturday Dobee (OON, posthumous), Nordu Eawo (OON, posthumous), Daniel Gbooko (OON, posthumous), Paul Levera (OON, posthumous), Felix Nuate (OON, posthumous), Baribor Bera (OON, posthumous), Barinem Kiobel (OON, posthumous) and John Kpuine (OON, posthumous).
With this gesture, Tinubu acknowledged not just living icons but also fallen heroes of democracy and environmental justice.
