President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has conferred national honours on several distinguished Nigerians in recognition of their outstanding contributions to national development, democratic advocacy, public service, and entrepreneurship.
The announcement, which comes a day after the 2025 Democracy Day celebrations, features prominent civil rights activists, entrepreneurs, technocrats, and public figures across various sectors.
Leading the list of honourees under the Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON) are human rights advocate Aisha Yesufu, founder of Innoson Motors; Innocent Chukwuma, veteran journalist and former senator Uche Chukwumerije (posthumous), legal luminary Olisa Agbakoba, National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu, democracy activist and daughter of the late MKO Abiola Hafsat Abiola-Costello, and fiery cleric and former vice-presidential candidate Pastor Tunde Bakare.
In the Member of the Order of the Federal Republic (MFR) category, recipients include: Ibijoke Faborode, co-founder of ElectHER, Seun Onigbinde, co-founder of BudgIT, Samson Itodo, Executive Director of YIAGA Africa, Ezenwa Nwagwu, electoral reform advocate, Abiola Akiyode-Afolabi, gender rights activist.
Others are Ariyo-Dare Atoye (posthumous), civic tech and electoral rights champion, Ndidi Nwuneli, social entrepreneur and founder of LEAP Africa, Issa Aremu, labour leader and director of the Labour Institute, Hamzat Lawal, CEO of Connected Development (CODE) and founder of Follow The Money.
Westernmirror.com.ng reports the honours reflect President Tinubu’s gesture toward recognising critical voices, both within and outside the corridors of power, who have made lasting impacts in the fight for good governance, transparency, and national growth.
Recall that the president had earlier yesterday, June 12, in commemoration of national democracy day, conferred several other national honors on notable Nigerians who have distinguished themselves in the society.