President Goodluck Jonathan on Friday night decorated seven
living former Nigerian Heads of State and Presidents with the centenary awards
at the banquet hall of the Presidential Villa.
The decorated leaders are Yakubu Gowon,
Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, Alhaji Shehu Shagari and Gen. Muhammadu Buhari. Others
are Gen. Ibrahim Babangida, Chief Ernest Shonekan and Gen. Abdusalami Abubakar.
Six late Nigerian Heads of State were honoured post-humously.
The recipients of the post-humous award are
Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe, Alhaji Tafawa Balewa, Gen. Aguiyi Ironsi, Gen. Murtala
Mohammed, Gen. Sani Abacha and Alhaji Musa Yar’Adua.
Also in the category is the winner of the June 1993 general
election, late Chief Moshood Abiola. Mrs Maryam Abacha received the award for
her husband. However, the award for MKO Abiola, was rejected by the family.
The
awards for late Gani Fawehinmi, Professor Wole Soyinka and Fela Anikulapo Kuti
were turned down.
The centenary awards were in 13 categories
with winners both living and dead.
The first are those who have contributed to
the making of Nigeria and they include Queen Elizabeth II of England, Lord
Fredrick Lugard and his wife, Lady Lugard.
The second category is the Heroes of the
Struggle for independence/Pioneer political leaders which include Azikiwe,
Balewa, Macaulay and Chief Obafemi Awolowo.
Others in the category are Sir Ahmadu
Bello, Prof Eyo Ita, Jaja Nwachukwu, Pa Michael Imoudu, Chief Anthony Enahoro
and Chief Joseph Tarka.
The rest are Malam Aminu Kano, Mrs Margaret Ekpo, Funmilayo
Ransome-Kuti and Hajia Gambo Sawaba.
The third category is the Pioneers in
professional Callings/careers which include the first indigenous lawyer, Chief
Sapara Williams, and the first indigenous Solicitor, Chief Rotimi Williams.The categories also include the first indigenous Chartered Accountant, Chief Akintola Williams, and the
first indigenous Inspector General of Police, Louis Edet, and the first
indigenous medical doctor, Prof. Eyitayo Lambo.
Also in the categories are the first female
Vice Chancelor of Nigerian universities, Prof. Grace Alele-Williams, and the
first indigenous female pilot,.Capt. Chinyere Kalu.
Others include Akinwale Wey, Gen. George,
Gen. Aguiyi Ironsi, Tamunoiyowunam, Gen. Abdullahi Mohammed, Prof. Kenneth
Dike, and Gen. Oviemo Ovadje.
The fourth category is Pioneer in Commerce
and Industry, which has Louis Odumegwu Ojukwu, Alh. Alhassan Dantata and Chief
Adeola Odutola.
Awardees under Pioneer of Democratic
Transition in Nigeria are Shagari, late Abiola, late Gen. Shehu Yar’Adua and
Abdusalami Abubakar.
The sixth category is the Heroes in Global
Sports Competitions which are Chioma Ajunwa, Nwankwo Kanu, Richard Ihetu, Chief
Michael Okpala (Power Mike) and Monday Emoghavwe.
The seventh category is Accomplished
Pioneer Public Servants and the awardees include Chief Olabode Wey, Justice Udo
Udoma, Chief Emeka Anyaoku and Sir Adetokubo Ademola.
Others are Dr Olawale Elias, Dr Rilwan
Lukman, Alhaji Ibrahim Dasuki and Alh. Aliyu Mai-Borno.
The awardess under category eight, which
are the Accomplished Temporary Entrepreneurs, are Alhaji Aliko Dangote, Chief Mike
Adenuga and Dr innocent Chukwuma.
The ninth category is Distinguished
Academics and the recipients include Profs. Benjamin Osuntokun, . Kelsey
Harrison, Chike Obi, Dagogo Fubara, Ade Ajayi, Claude Ake, Babatunde Fafunwa,
Godwin Abasi and Umaru Shehu.
The tenth category is International
Acclaimed Artists, Literary Icons and Journalists and the recipients include
Chief Michael Akinwumi, Profs. Wole Soyinka, Chinua Achebe and John Pepper
Clark.
The recipients also include Mr Cyprian
Ekwensi, Alhaji Abubakar Imam, Mr Daniel Fagunwa, Ernest Ikoli, Alhaji
Babatunde Jose and Kenneth Nnebue.
The category also has Olu Jacobs, Patience
Ozokwor, Shata Katsina, Herbert Ogunde, Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, Osita Osadebe and
Dr Ladi Kwali.
Others are Benedict Enwonwu, Alhaji Maitama
Sule, Prof. Akin Mabogunje, Dr Barnabas Oloruntoba and the Chief Justice of
Nigeria, Mariam Mukhtar.
The eleventh category is Outstanding Bravery
and Public Spiritedness and the beneficiaries are Chief Gani Fawehinmi and
Michael Ihuka.
The twelfth category is Outstanding Promoters
of Unity, Patriotism and National development and in the category are former
Heads of State and Presidents.
The recipients are Gowon, late Gen. Murtala
Mohammed, Obasanjo, Buhari, Babangida, Shonekan, Gen. Sani Abacha, Alhaji Umaru
Yar’Adua, and Gen. Theophilus Danjuma.
The last category is Exemplary Service in
the Promotion of Peace and Moral Excellence and the recipients are Sir Abubakar
Sadiq, Sheikh Abubakar Gumi, Michael Tansi, Pastor Enoch Adeboye and Sheikh
Usman Bauchi
No comments:
Post a Comment