President Muhammadu Buhari, on Tuesday, conferred National Honours on 450 Nigerians and non-Nigerians including a religious leader, Imam Abdullahi Abubakar, who hid over 262 Christians in his mosque from attacks in Yelwa Gindi Akwati village, Plateau State.

Buhari also conferred National Honours on an airport cleaner, Ms. Josephine Agu, who returned $12,200 found in a toilet at Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos State, and a bank security guard, Ogbanago Muhammed Ibrahim, who found and returned $10,000.

Speaking at the event held in Abuja, President Buhari commended the National Awards Committee headed by a retired Justice of the Supreme Court and the Emir of Lafia, Justice Sidi Bage Muhammad I, for a great and patriotic duty by diligently going through over 5,000 submissions and coming up with these recommendations.

The President, according to a statement issued on Tuesday by his spokesman, Femi Adesina, noted that the screening and selection of nominees for this year’s award as always followed established broad criteria, in accordance with the National Honours Act CAP.N43 of the Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.

Buhari listed them to include “consistent and meaningful participation in community and/or national development; rendering unsolicited, selfless and philanthropic services to humanity; outstanding sacrifice in the defence of a cause popularly adjudged to be positive, relevant and beneficial to the nation and community.”

Other criteria listed by the President for selecting the recipients were “distinct act of bravery in the protection and/or defence of national interest, public peace, safety of life and property.

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President Buhari, who stressed that nation-building involves a lot of sacrifice by the citizenry, said citizens who contribute to national development deserve to be encouraged and appreciated.

He said: “We have amongst the recipients today, Amb. Prof. Tijjani Muhammad-Bande, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo Iweala, Ms. Amina J. Mohammed, and Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, who are doing our country proud on the international scene. Our dear sisters are a source of inspiration to our young women that through the dint of hard work and dedication, they can achieve greatness.

“We also have on the list, Imam Abdullahi Abubakar, a religious leader who hid over 262 Christians in his mosque from attacks in Yelwa Gindi Akwati village, in Plateau State. He is a good example of religious tolerance we preach amongst Nigerians. I am excited that he is being honoured today with Member of the Order of the Federal Republic (MFR).

“Worthy of mention are our artistes, particularly, our very own Damini Ebunoluwa Ogulu (Burna Boy), who won the Grammy Awards in 2020. He along with other artistes have repositioned the Nigerian entertainment industry and placed it on the global map. At the just concluded Dubai Expo 2020, Nigeria’s pavilion was a beehive of activities as our musicians entertained guests from around the world.

“Despite the present economic challenges, Nigeria still boasts of men and women of integrity; Ms. Josephine Agu, an airport cleaner returned $12,200 found in a toilet at Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos as well as Ogbanago Muhammed Ibrahim, a bank security man who found and returned $10,000.

“Today, we celebrate their dignity and strong strength of character by conferring National Honours on them. They are a shining example to our younger generation.

“I congratulate all the recipients today who will be joining the league of Awardees.

“I appreciate the non-Nigerian recipients and assure all of you that this administration will continue to provide the enabling environment for you to undertake your lawful businesses to allow you to sustain your efforts at contributing to the development of our nation, Nigeria,” Buhari stated.

President Buhari added that the list of awardees was justifiably long because the exercise has not been carried out since 2015.

The Star