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”.