According to The Guardian, the Federal Government on Monday named Prof. Niyi Osundare the lone recipient of this year’s Nigerian National Order of Merit Award (NNOM). The Chairman, Governing Board of the Nigerian Merit Award (NNMA), Prof. Etim Essien, disclosed this in Abuja at a press conference to announce the recipient of the 2014 Nigerian National Order of Merit (NNOM) Award.
According to Essien “Prof. Niyi Osundare who through outstanding scholarship, researches and service to humanity in the field of humanities has successfully carved his name in gold in the hearts of people of this nation and many nation of the world.
“Niyi Osundare, a poet dramatist and an essayist, has been Nigeria’s noted nature poet of English language expression, and an accessible serious poet, who sets out to engage the reader, and has made most significant contribution to the Nigerian poetic English diction,” he said.
The Board Chairman informed that President Goodluck Jonathan at the Council Chambers, Presidential Villa, would decorate Prof. Niyi with the NNOM Award on Dec. 4. His words; “As per the law that established the Nigerian National Merit Award, the investiture will be performed by Mr. President, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Nigeria, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, GCFR on Thursday in the month of December this year. The venue by tradition, are the Council of Chambers of the Presidential Villa.
He explained that the Nigerian National Merit Award (NNMA, NNOM) is a separate order of dignity that specifically seeks to recognize, promote and reward outstanding academic and intellectual achievements in all fields of human endeavor. “The establishment of the Nigerian National Merit Award scheme, as Nigeria’s highest and most prestigious prize for outstanding intellectual and academic attainment has encouraged a highly significant number of best Nigerian minds to seek accolades at home.
Speaking further, Prof. Essien disclosed that as a prelude to the investiture, the Governing Board of the NNMA would organize the 7th Annual Forum for ANNOM Laureates on the 2nd-3rd December. “The theme for this year’s forum is ‘The National Value System’. The theme and the sub-themes were carefully selected to reflect the needs of the nation and also relate it to the transformation agenda of the present administration.
Credit: The Guardian