Order of the Niger | |
---|---|
Awarded by Nigeria | |
Type | Order |
Awarded for | Services to the nation |
Status | Currently constituted |
Sovereign | President of Nigeria |
Grades | Grand Commander (GCON) Commander (CON) Officer (OON) Member (MON) |
Precedence | |
Next (higher) | Order of the Federal Republic |
(civil division) (military division) Ribbon bar of the order |
The Order of the Niger (OON) is the second highest national award in Nigeria. [1] It was instituted in 1963 and is junior to the Order of the Federal Republic, the highest order of merit in the country.
The two highest honours, the Grand Commander of the Order of the Federal Republic and Grand Commander in the Order of the Niger, are awarded to the president and vice-president respectively. The presiding judge in the Supreme Court and the chairman of the Senate are qualitative and ex officio Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger.
Nigeria followed the British example in the form and structure of the order. Similarly, there are post-nominal letters for members of the Order of the Niger.
The order has a Civil Division and a Military Division. The ribbon of the latter division has a small red line in the middle.
Notable recipients of the award include: [2] [3] [4]
S/NO | NAMES | STATUS | Sector | Class of medal |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Muhammad Sani Ahmed | Chairman Jamesh Company Limited | Private | MFR |
2 | Aliko Dangote | Chairman of Dangote Group | Private | GCON |
3 | Bello Maitama Yusuf | Former Internal Affairs Minister | Public | GCON |
4 | Aminu Tambuwal | Former Governor, Sokoto State | Public | CFR |
5 | Mohammed Bello Adoke, SAN | Attorney General of the Federation | Public | CFR |
6 | Oluseyi Petinrin | Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) | Public | CFR |
7 | Muhammadu Dikko | Chief of Air Staff (CAS) | Public | CFR |
8 | Azubuike Ihejirika | Chief of Army Staff (COAS) | Public | CFR |
9 | Hafiz Ringim | Former Inspector General of Police (IGP) | Public | CFR |
10 | Abdullahi Dikko | Former Comptroller General of Customs (CGC) | Public | OFR |
11 | Aloma Mariam Mukhtar | Former Justice of the Supreme Court | Public | GCON |
12 | Victoria Gowon | Former First Lady of Nigeria | Public | CFR |
13 | Bolaji Akinyemi | Professor of Political Science, and Former Minister, External Affairs | Public | CFR |
14 | Chinua Achebe | Scholar, and a eminent figure of modern African literature. | Private | CFR |
15 | Folagbade Olateru Olagbegi III | The Olowo of Owo, Ondo State | Public | CFR |
16 | Tony Elumelu | Philanthropist | Private | CON |
17 | Ahmed Idris Wase | Former Deputy Speaker House of Representatives | Public | CON |
18 | Oba Otudeko | Founder and chairman of the Honeywell Group and Oba Otudeko Foundation | Private | CON |
19 | Akin Mabogunje | Geographer Consultant and First African President of the International Geographical Union. | Private and Public | CON |
20 | Peter Obi | Former Governor, Anambra State and 2023 Labor Party Presidential Candidate | Public | CON |
21 | Liyel Imoke | Former Governor, Cross River State | Public | CON |
22 | Adams Oshiomhole | Former Governor, Edo State and Senator, Edo North Central | Public | CON |
23 | Patrick Ibrahim Yakowa | Former Governor of Kaduna State | Public | CON |
24 | Ibrahim Shehu Shema | Former Governor of Katsina Staff | Public | CON |
25 | Mu'azu Babangida Aliyu | Former Governor of Niger State | Public | CON |
26 | Rotimi Amaechi | Former Governor of Rivers State and Former Minister of Transportation | Public | CON |
27 | Godswill Akpabio | President of the 10th Nigerian Senate | Public | CON |
28 | Sule Lamido | Former Governor, Jigawa State | Public | CON |
29 | Abba Kyari | Former Governor North Central State | Public | CON |
30 | Chukwuemeka Ezeife | Former Governor Anambra State | Public | CON |
31 | Olusegun Agagu | Former Governor of Ondo State, and renowned Geologist | Public | CON |
32 | Isiaka Adeleke | Former Governor, Osun State, and former Senator, Osun West | Public | CON |
33 | Lam Adesina | Former Governor of Oyo State | Public | CON |
34 | Bukar Abba Ibrahim | Former Governor of Yobe State | Public | CON |
35 | Rufus Ada George | Former Governor, Rivers State | Public | CON |
36 | Atedo Peterside | Founder, Stanbic IBTC Bank Plc, Anap Business Jets Limited, and The Atedo N. A. Peterside Foundation. | Private | CON |
37 | Sam Ohuabunwa | Founder and Former CEO of Neimeth Pharmaceutical, and Former President of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria. | Private | OFR |
38 | Tony Ezenna | Founder, Orange Drugs Nigeria Limited | Private | OFR |
39 | Iyorwuese Hagher | Former Minister of State for Health/Power and Steel, and Ambassador to Mexico and High Commissioner to Canada [5] | Public | OON |
40 | Victor Olaiya | Renowned Musician, and Trumpeter | Private [6] [7] | OON |
41 | Francesca Yetunde Emanuel | Former Permanent Secretary, Public Service Department of the Cabinet Office | Public | CON |
42 | Stella Oduah | Former Minister of Aviation | Public | OON |
43 | Tobi Amusan | World, Commonwealth and African champion of the 100 meters hurdles | Private | OON |
44 | Iyin Aboyeji | Former CEO, Flutterwave & Co-founder, Andela | Private | OON |
45 | Teni | Singer, Songwriter and Entertainer. | Private | MON |
46 | Emeka Okwuosa | Chairman/GCEO, OilServ Limited | Private | CON |
47 | Habeeb Okunola | CEO, TILT Group | Private | MON |
48 | Abike Dabiri | Chairman/CEO of Nigerian Diaspora Commission | Public | OON |
48 | Joseph Oqua Ansa | Former Senator, Cross River South | Public | MON |
49 | Asisat Oshoala | Athlete | Sport | MON |
50 | Gabriel Ogbechie | Founder GMD, Rainoil Limited | Private | OON |
51 | Nimi Briggs | Emeritus Professor of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, and, Former Vice Chancellor, University of Port- Harcourt, Rivers State | Public | OON |
52 | Kayode Ajulo | Lawyer, arbitrator & civil rights activist | Private | OON |
53 | Davido | Singer, songwriter, record producer | Private | OON |
54 | Charles Okpaleke | Nigerian businessman and film producer | Private | OON |
55 | Ado Bayero | Emir of Kano | Public | CFR |
56 | Owen Omogiafo | President/GCEO, Transnational Corporation of Nigeria (Transcorp) | Private | OON |
57 | Dr. F.B.A. Coker | Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist, businessman and Chairman of Victoria Island Consultancy and Hospital Services | Private | OON |
58 | Chief H.T.O. Coker | Private Attorney in Admiralty, Energy and Aviation Law | Private | OON |
59 | Chief Erhabor Ogieva Emokpae | Former National Artist of Nigeria | Public | OON |
60 | Sani Umar Rijiyar Lemo | Salafism Preacher in Nigeria | Private | OON |
61 | Francis Uzoho, Ola Aina, Zaidu Sanusi, Alhassan Yusuf, William Troost-Ekong, Semi Ajayi, Ahmed Musa, Frank Onyeka, Victor Osimhen, Joe Aribo, Samuel Chukwueze, Bright Osayi-Samuel, Bruno Onyemaechi, Kelechi Iheanacho, Moses Simon, Olorunleke Ojo, Alex Iwobi, Ademola Lookman, Paul Onuachu, Chidozie Awaziem, Calvin Bassey, Kenneth Omeruo, Stanley Nwabali, Terem Moffi, Raphael Onyedika, as 2023 Africa Cup of Nations runners-up | footballers | Sport | MON |
62 | Dosu Joseph | footballer | Sport | MON |
63 | Efe Ambrose | footballer | Sport | MON |
64 | Narendra Modi | Prime Minister of India | Public | GCON |
Nigerian National Honours are a set of orders and decorations conferred upon Nigerians and friends of Nigeria every year. They were instituted by the National Honors Act No. 5 of 1964, during the First Nigerian Republic, to honour Nigerians who have rendered service to the benefit of the nation.
Victor Efosa Uwaifo was a Nigerian musician, writer, sculptor, and musical instrument inventor, university lecturer, music legend, and the first Honorable Commissioner for Arts, Culture and Tourism in Nigeria. He was the winner of the first gold disc in Africa (Joromi) released in 1965 and seven other gold discs in Guitar Boy, Arabade, Ekassa series and Akwete music. He recorded under the name "Victor Uwaifo and His Titibitis".
Cletus Madubugwu Ibeto is a Nigerian businessman from the industrial city of Nnewi. He is head of The Ibeto Group, the largest business enterprise from Nnewi, a city unique for its entrepreneurial spirit. In the early 1980s, when the oil crash and a controversial import licensing system was making a dent on the Nigerian manufacturing environment, Nnewi went through a growth period. The Ibeto Group under the Ibeto's leadership was a pacesetter in the region and nation's trading and later manufacturing development.
The Most Distinguished Order of the Star and Key of the Indian Ocean is the highest distinct order of merit in the honours system of Mauritius established under the National Awards Act 1993. It was founded in 1992 to decorate people who have made a contribution to social progress in the nations of the Indian Ocean. It may be awarded to non-Mauritian citizens.
Ahmed Idris is a Nigerian politician who served as deputy speaker of the House of Representatives of Nigeria from 2019 to 2023. He is a member of All Progressives Congress.
Victor Abimbola Olaiya, , also known as Dr Victor Olaiya, was a Nigerian trumpeter who played in the highlife style. Though famous in Nigeria during the 1950s and early 1960s, Olaiya received little recognition outside his native country. Alhaji Alade Odunewu of the Daily Times called him "The Evil Genius of Highlife."
Bashir Salihi Magashi is a retired Nigerian Army major general who served as the defence minister of Nigeria from 2019 to 2023. He served as governor of Sokoto State from August 1990 to January 1992 during the military regime of General Ibrahim Babangida, and as commandant of the Nigerian Defence Academy from 1998 to 1999.
Suraj Alao Abdurrahman, was a Nigerian Army general who served as the Command Officer in Charge of the Armed Forces of Liberia, with former Liberian president Ellen Johnson Sirleaf as the Commander-in-Chief. According to then President Johnson Sirleaf, General Abdurrahman "was an exceedingly exceptional gentleman officer whose contributions lifted the Armed Forces of Liberia to professional greatness and emplace our military amongst UN peacekeepers”.
Joseph Oyeyani Makoju served as Special Adviser to the President Goodluck Jonathan of Nigeria under two separate administrations. He was Honorary Adviser on Electric Power to the President/Commander-in-Chief, Federal Republic of Nigeria. He was also the Special Adviser to the President/Chief Executive, Dangote Group, the chairman, Cement Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, as well as West African Power Pool Executive Board. Makoju recently retired as the Group Managing Director/ CEO of the Dangote Cement PLC; a position he has held since April 2018.
The Order of the Federal Republic (OFR) is one of two orders of merit, established by the Federal Republic of Nigeria in 1963. It is senior to the Order of the Niger.
Akinwumi AdesinaCON is a Nigerian economist, who is currently serving as the President of the African Development Bank. He previously served as Nigeria's Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development. Until his appointment as Minister in 2010, he was Vice President of Policy and Partnerships for the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA). He was elected as the President of the African Development Bank in 2015 and re-elected for a second term in 2020. He is the first Nigerian to hold the post.
Abdul Samad Isyaku Rabiu is a Nigerian businessman and philanthropist. As of 2024, he is the second richest man in Nigeria. His late father, Khalifah Isyaku Rabiu, was one of Nigeria's foremost industrialists in the 1970s and 1980s. Abdul Samad is the founder and chairman of BUA Group, a Nigerian conglomerate concentrating on manufacturing, infrastructure and agriculture and producing a revenue in excess of $2.5 billion. He is also the chairman of the Nigerian Bank of Industry (BOI).
Alhassan Ado Garba popularly known as Alhassan Doguwa is the Majority Leader of House of Representatives of Nigerian today. He is an All Progressive Congress (APC) member representing Doguwa/Tudun Wada Federal Constituency of Kano State.
Femi Adesina OON is a Nigerian journalist who served as the Special Adviser, Media and Publicity to the former president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari.
ChiefInnocent Ifediaso Chukwuma CON is a Nigerian business magnate and investor. He is the founder and CEO of Innoson Vehicle Manufacturing, Nigeria's first indigenous automobile manufacturing company.
Iyinoluwa Samuel Aboyeji is a Nigerian entrepreneur. He is the co-founder of Andela, and the former managing director of Flutterwave. Aboyeji was cited as one of the Top 100 most influential Africans by New African magazine in 2019.
Iba Akosin Habeeb Okunola OFR, MON, FICA is a Nigerian entrepreneur, investor, and philanthropist who is the chief executive officer of TILT Group, a multinational conglomerate headquartered in Nigeria with diversified investments spanning key business sectors of the African economy, including energy, construction, engineering, agriculture, and technology.
Mohd Zuki bin Ali is a Malaysian civil servant who served as the 15th Chief Secretary to the Government from 2020 to 2024.
Olugbenga Agboola is a Nigerian software engineer, entrepreneur, and business leader. He is the CEO and co-founder of Flutterwave, Vice Chairman of the U.S.-Africa Business Center Board, and a member of prominent business organizations including the Milken Institute Africa Business Leaders Council, the Wall Street Journal CEO Council, and the Fast Company Impact Council.