President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will honour eleven Nigerians with citizenship and patriots awards ahead of the country’s 63rd Independence Day celebration.
As reported by The Nation, the award is part of the National Orientation Agency (NOA)’s efforts to promote civic education in Nigeria, and is scheduled to hold on Thursday, October 5.
The Director General of the National Orientation Agency, NOA, Dr. Garba Abari, disclosed this while addressing the media.
The awardees include Nigerian flag designer, late Pa Taiwo Micheal Akinkunmi, who recently died on August 29, after he suffered from a brief illness. Others are Naval Rating, Salaudeen Akano, who hoisted the Nigerian flag at midnight to mark the independence of Nigeria in 1960, and late Commander Onwurah Zonyanuno Chiazor, the commandant under whose order Naval Rating Salaudeen hoisted the flag.
See the full list below;
1. Late Pa Taiwo Micheal Akinkunmi
2. Naval Rating, Salaudeen Akano
3. Late Commander Onwurah Zonyanuno Chiazor
4. John A. Ilechukwu
5. Eme Etim Akpan
6. B.A. Ogunnaike
7. Sota Omoigui
8. P. O. Aderibigbe (all contributed to the lyrics of the country’s National Anthem.)
9. Late Benedict E. Odiase – directed the Nigerian Police Band
10. Late (Mrs.) Felicia Adebola Adedoyin – the woman who created the National Pledge
11. Elder Adewusi
Abari further stated that the 16th of September every year has been set aside as National Symbols Day, and September 30 as Citizens and Patriots Day.
According to Abari, Symbols Day marks the date when Nigeria’s Coat-of-Arms and National Ordinance was signed into law in 1960 ahead of Nigeria’s Independence Day.
