President Muhammadu Buhari says the award of National honours to selected Nigerians reminds citizens of their duty of serving their fatherland selflessly.
He remarked on Tuesday at the 2022 National Honours Award Investiture Ceremony, held at the International Conference Center, Abuja.
He, therefore, urged all Nigerians to continue to work hard for the development of the nation.
The President advised those who have not yet received the national honours to be more patient as their time will surely come.
He said: “The National Honours are not merely decorative. They remind us of an important part of our responsibility as citizens. We must always endeavour to do our best for our country.
“It is worthy of note that nation-building involves a lot of sacrifice by the citizenry. Citizens who contribute to national development deserve to be encouraged and appreciated.
“It is based on this premise that I reconstituted the National Honours Award Committee, Chaired by His Royal Highness, Justice Sidi Bage Muhammad I, JSC (Rtd), the Emir of Lafia, a distinguished retired Justice and other patriotic Nigerians as members to recommend suitable Nigerians and our friends for appropriate recognition.
“Let me appeal to other Nigerians who are yet to receive this recognition to be patient and understand that their efforts in nation-building are appreciated and at the right time, will similarly be recognized.”
He used the occasion to assure Nigerians that government will not relent in its effort to deal with enemies of the State, adding that he will hand over a secured nation to his successor.
“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,” he added.
The President assured citizens that government will continue to partner with relevant allies to build a great nation.
He said: “This administration will continue to partner with Nigerians and friends of Nigeria with like minds in our efforts to build the Nigeria of our dream where everybody will thrive to excel in their chosen fields devoid of parochial sentiments.”
The Nigerian leader highlighted the virtues of some Nigerians who exhibited good character in their fields of endeavour, as a good precedent for the younger citizens.
“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,” he said.
On behalf of the award recipients, President of the Senate, Ahmed Lawan, described the award as an additional call to service, adding that the awardees are motivated more than ever to do their best for Nigeria.
“This award is an additional call to service for all of us awardees. It is a call to duty and an invitation to realize that citizens’ efforts will not be in vain. We are, therefore, inspired, motivated and admonished to keep up our inputs in the building of a virile nation,” Lawan stated.
Prominent among the awardees were, Prof. Tijjani Muhammad-Bande, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo Iweala, Ms. Amina Mohammed, Chimamanda Adichie and Imam Abdullahi Abubakar, a religious leader who hid over 262 Christians in his mosque from attacks in Yelwa Gindi Akwati village, in Plateau State. 
Others are the Catholic Arch Bishop of Abuja, Most Rev Ignatius Kaigama, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, Damini Ebunoluwa Ogulu (Burna Boy), who won the Grammy Awards in 2020.
The award, which is in 10 categories, was presented to Supreme Court Justices, judges, top lawyers, incumbent and former governors, Ministers, traditional rulers, creative artistes, politicians, businessmen, athletes, and security officers who died in the line of duty, and other distinguished Nigerians.
A total of 6 persons were conferred with GCON, 55 received Commander of the Order of the Federal Republic (CFR), 65 got the Commander of the Order of Niger (CON), 77 were presented with the Officer of the Order of the Federal Republic (OFR); 110 received the Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON); 74 were presented with Member of the Order of the Federal Republic (MFR) and 55 received Member of the Order of the Niger (MON).
There were four recipients each for the Federal Republic Medal I (FRM I) and Federal Republic Medal II (FRM II) Second Class) respectively.
The seven foreigners honoured at the colourful event received the OFR Award
Dominica Nwabufo
