Democracy Day: Tinubu to Confer National Awards on 50 Patriots

President Bola Tinubu on Friday announced national awards for dozens of Nigerians who suffered persecution, imprisonment and exile during the struggle for democracy as he delivered his Democracy Day address to the nation.

Full list of awardees

The following Nigerians received national awards:

Civilian democracy heroes:

1. Barrister Ayoka Lawani

2. Tunde Fagbenle

3. Oladele Alake

4. Olatunji Bello

5. Louis Odion

6. Segun Babatope

7. Sam Omatseye

8. Sir Ademola Osinubi

9. Bola Bolawole

10. Lade Bonuola

11. Femi Kusa

12. Debo Adeniran

13. Chief Ayo Opadokun

14. Chief Ralph Obiora

15. Ose Osayande

16. Barrister Osa Director

17. Prof. Sylvester Odion-Akhaine

18. Dr Osagie Obayuwana

19. Dr Joe Okei-Odumakin

20. Barrister Titus Mann

21. Joe Igbokwe

22. Richard Akinnola

23. George Mbah

24. Dr Niran Malaolu

25. Major-General Ishola Williams (retired)

26. Femi Aborisade

27. Jenkins Alumona

28. Gbemiga Ogunleye

29. Muyiwa Adekeye

30. Babajide Kolade-Otitoju

31. Ike Okonta

Posthumous awards:

32. Dr Arthur Nwankwo

33. Ben Charles-Obi

Soldier-democrats honoured

The president also recognised military figures who participated in the June 12 struggle:

34. Major General M.A. Garba

35. Brigadier General Lawal Jaafaru Isa

36. Colonel Umar Farouk Ahmed

37. Colonel Sambo Dasuki

38. Colonel Lawan Gwadabe

39. Brigadier Jonathan Ndam Temlong

40. Colonel Musa Shehu

41. Major General Chris Eze

42. Major General Harris Dzarma

43. Colonel Isa Jibrin

44. Major General Joseph Oshanupin

45. Colonel Olusegun Oloruntoba (Olugbede of Gbede Kingdom)

46. Lieutenant Colonel Happy Kefas Bulus

47. Colonel J. Okai

48. Colonel Emmanuel Ndubueze

49. Lieutenant Colonel Yakubu Muazu

50. Brigadier Yahaya Abubakar (the current Etsu Nupe, who already holds the CFR title)

The president said the full honours list would be released in the coming days.

Earlier in his address, Tinubu appealed to young Nigerians to stay and build their country.

“Nigeria is your home. Build here, work here, and food here,” he said.

“Every great nation was built by those who stayed to solve problems, not by those who abandoned ship.”

The president acknowledged that the mood of this year’s Democracy Day celebration was dampened by the abduction of schoolchildren.

“Though this year’s mood is dampened by the abduction of our children, we remain hopeful for their safe return,” he said.