President Tinubu today June 12, conferred national honours on 50 Nigerians who are ‘key figures in the pro-democracy struggle.’
President Bola Tinubu on Friday conferred national honours on 50 prominent Nigerians who, according to him, are key figures in the nation’s pro-democracy struggle.
He announced the awards during his nationwide 2026 Democracy Day address, which marks the anniversary of the historic June 12, 1993, presidential election.
The national honours list comprises several journalists, civil rights leaders, and senior military officers involved in the fight against military dictatorship. In his address, Tinubu praised the honourees, noting that they suffered persecution, endured indignities, exile, incarceration, and, at times, solitary confinement so that Nigeria could enjoy democracy today.
The president stated that the formal presentation and conferment of the awards will be carried out in the coming days.
See the full list of the awardees below
Barrister Ayoka Lawani
Tunde Fagbenle
Oladele Alake
Olatunji Bello
Louis Odion
Segun Babatope
Sam Omatseye
Sir Ademola Osinubi
Bola Bolawole
Lade Bonuola
Femi Kusa
Debo Adeniran
Chief Ayo Opadokun
Chief Ralph Obiora
Ose Osayande
Barrister Osa Director
Prof. Sylvester Odion-Akhaine
Dr Arthur Nwankwo (Posthumous)
Dr Osagie Obayuwana
Dr Joe Okei-Odumakin
Barrister Titus Mann
Joe Igbokwe
Richard Akinnola
Ben Charles-Obi (Posthumous)
George Mbah
Dr Niran Malaolu
Major-General Ishola Williams (rtd)
Femi Aborisade
Jenkins Alumona
Gbemiga Ogunleye
Muyiwa Adekeye
Babajide Kolade-Otitoju
Ike Okonta
SOLDIER-DEMOCRATS
Major General MA Garba
Brigadier General Lawal Jaafaru Isa
Col Umar Farouk Ahmed
Col Sambo Dasuki
Col Lawan Gwadabe
Brigadier Jonathan Ndam Temlong
Col Musa Shehu
Major General Chris Eze
Major General Harris Dzarma
Col Isa Jibrin
Maj. General Joseph Oshanupin
Col Olusegun Oloruntoba, Olugbede of Gbede Kingdom)
Lieutenant Colonel Happy Kefas Bulus
Col J Okai
Col Emmanuel Ndubueze
Lt Col Yakubu Muazu
Brigadier Yahaya Abubakar, the Current Etsu Nupe, who is already the holder of the CFR title.
The president said the full honours list will be released in the “next few days”.