Order of the Niger

Order of the Niger
Order of the Niger ;
	Star and ribbon of the 2 divisions
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; ;

Last updated February 29, 2024

Nigeria became an independent country on 1 October 1960 and in 1963 became the Federal Republic of Nigeria. The republic instituted two orders of merit: the Order of the Niger and the Order of the Federal Republic.^[1]

Award

The two highest honours, the Grand Commander in 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 commander in the Order of the Niger.

Grades

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.

Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger (GCON)
Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON)
Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON)
Member of the Order of the Niger (MON)

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

Notable recipients include:^[2]^[3]^[4]

S/NO	NAMES	STATUS	Sector	Class of medal
1	Joseph Wayas	Former Senate President	Public	GCON
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

Related Research Articles

The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British order of chivalry, rewarding contributions to the arts and sciences, work with charitable and welfare organizations, and public service outside the civil service. It was established on 4 June 1917 by King George V and comprises five classes across both civil and military divisions, the most senior two of which make the recipient either a knight if male or dame if female. There is also the related British Empire Medal, whose recipients are affiliated with, but not members of, the order.

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.

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.

Abdulsalami Abubakar is a Nigerian statesman and retired Nigerian army general who served as the military head of state of Nigeria from 1998 to 1999. He was also Chief of Defence Staff from 1997 to 1998. He succeeded General Sani Abacha upon the latter's death.

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."

Chief Godswill Obot Akpabio is a Nigerian lawyer and politician who is currently serving as the 15th president of the Nigerian Senate since 2023. He served as Senator representing Akwa Ibom North-West Senatorial District from 2015 to 2019 and since 2023. He also served as minister for Niger Delta Affairs from 2019 to 2022. He previously served as governor of Akwa Ibom State from 2007 to 2015.

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.

Amina Jane Mohammed is a British Nigerian diplomat and politician who is serving as the fifth Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations. Previously, she was Nigerian Minister of Environment from 2015 to 2016 and was a player in the Post-2015 Development Agenda process. She is also Chair of United Nations Sustainable Development Group.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Order of the Federal Republic</span> Nigerian order of merit

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.

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. He also worked as a computer science teacher in Haydon School, Pinner, UK.

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.

Mohammed Sani Musa CON is a politician and senator representing the Niger East Senatorial District of Niger State at the Nigerian National Assembly.

Yahaya Abubakar Abdullahi is a Nigerian politician and an associate professor. He is the Senator representing Kebbi North Senatorial District of Kebbi State at the 9th National Assembly. He was Senate Majority Leader of the Nigerian 9th National Assembly.

Mohammed Musa Bello is a Nigerian banker and politician who served as the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, from 2015 to 2023.

Tan Sri Dato' Seri Mohd Zuki bin Ali is a Malaysian civil servant who has served as Chief Secretary to the Government since January 2020.

References

↑ "National Honours Act" (PDF). Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre. Archived from the original (PDF) on 25 April 2015. Retrieved 24 November 2013.
↑ "Full list of 2010 and 2011 Nigeria National Honours Award recipients". Ogala.wordpress.com. 2011-11-14. Archived from the original on 2019-02-02. Retrieved 2019-02-01.
↑ "List of Nominees For National Award – 2022" (PDF). Premium Times. Retrieved October 15, 2022.
↑ "FULL LIST: Okonjo-Iweala, Abba Kyari... FG nominates 437 persons for national honours". TheCable. 2022-10-02. Retrieved 2022-10-13.
↑ "Office of the Pro-Chancellor | Afe Babalola University". Archived from the original on 2021-10-03. Retrieved 2020-08-23.
↑ "Victor Olaiya: Nigeria's 'evil genius' trumpeter who influenced Fela Kuti". Archived 2021-05-31 at the Wayback Machine , BBC, 21 March 2020
↑ "Victor Olaiya, Veteran Highlife Musician Dies At 89". Archived 2021-08-29 at the Wayback Machine , Daily Independent , 12 February 2020

External links

World Medals Index, Nigeria: Order of the Niger

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.

[act-1] "National Honours Act" (PDF). Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre. Archived from the original (PDF) on 25 April 2015. Retrieved 24 November 2013.

[2] "Full list of 2010 and 2011 Nigeria National Honours Award recipients". Ogala.wordpress.com. 2011-11-14. Archived from the original on 2019-02-02. Retrieved 2019-02-01.

[3] "List of Nominees For National Award – 2022" (PDF). Premium Times. Retrieved October 15, 2022.

[4] "FULL LIST: Okonjo-Iweala, Abba Kyari... FG nominates 437 persons for national honours". TheCable. 2022-10-02. Retrieved 2022-10-13.

[5] "Office of the Pro-Chancellor | Afe Babalola University". Archived from the original on 2021-10-03. Retrieved 2020-08-23.

[6] "Victor Olaiya: Nigeria's 'evil genius' trumpeter who influenced Fela Kuti". Archived 2021-05-31 at the Wayback Machine , BBC, 21 March 2020

[7] "Victor Olaiya, Veteran Highlife Musician Dies At 89". Archived 2021-08-29 at the Wayback Machine , Daily Independent , 12 February 2020

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

[7]