FG honours Oba Ewuare II, Ujah, Oduntan, others with national awards

The Benin monarch, Oba Ewuare II, has been honoured with the national award of Commander of the Federal Republic (CFR).

The recognition, which is part of activities to mark Nigeria’s 62nd Independence Day anniversary, would be formally conferred on the monarch by Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, President Muhammadu Buhari.

The letter of nomination for the award – the highest national honour conferred on any citizen for contributions to development of the nation, aside the President and Vice President – was formally presented to the traditional ruler by His Royal Highness, Sule Idaiye, the Imma of Somorika, last Friday, in his palace in Benin City, Edo State.

Also, for his contributions to medical research and academics, the immediate past President of Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) and current Vice Chancellor, Federal University of Health Sciences Otukpo (FUHSO), Prof. Innocent Achanya Otobo Ujah, was conferred with the prestigious Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON).

Ujah was also the immediate past Director General, Nigerian Institute for Medical Research (NIMR) Yaba.

A letter from the Office of the Minister, Federal Ministry of Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Affairs, personally signed by Senator George Akume, affirmed that Buhari had approved conferment of the honour on Ujah and gave the date for his investiture as Tuesday, October 11, 2022, at International Conference Centre, Abuja.

Similarly, Buhari approved the conferment of OON on the Chairman, Wemabod Group, Otunba Oluseyi Oduntan.

Oduntan, a former Managing Director of the Honeywell Group, has held different positions in the business world before voyaging into the political terrain where he took steps to represent the people of Ogun East Senatorial District at the Senate.

According to a letter signed by Akume, the investiture will also take place October 11.