President Muhammadu Buhari has conferred the Nigerian National Order of Merit (NNOM) Award for years 2020 and 2021 on three Nigerians who distinguished themselves in the field of medicine and science.

Conferring the award on the recipients, Dr. Oluyinka Olurotimi Olutoye, Medicine (2020); the late Professor Charles Ejike Chidume, Science (2020) and Professor Godwin O. Samuel Ekhaguere, Science (2021), the President said he was very proud to welcome the new Laureates to the prestigious league of highly honoured citizens.

A statement issued by Presidential Spokesman Femi Adesina quoted the President as saying  Nigeria would continue to celebrate and trumpet the scholars’ accomplishments as a shining example worthy of emulation by upcoming Nigerian young men and women.

“Please endeavour, at all times, to serve as beacons of hope and aspiration for the younger generation of Nigerians, reminding them that our survival and collective future as a nation ultimately rests on our being active participants in global developmental efforts, especially in science and technology,” Buhari told the recipients.

He said the integrity of the award underscored the high expectations of the nation that the new recipients, like their predecessors, would continue to hold the banners of creativity and intellectual excellence very high.

The President congratulated members of the Governing Board of the Nigerian National Merit Award, NNMA, under the Chairmanship of Professor Shekarau Yakubu Aku, and members of the Four Specialised Committees of Assessors and External Assessors for their integrity and transparency, and for the excellent work they had done.

On the request of the Chairman of the Governing Board over the dwindling budgetary allocation constraining the agency in carrying out its mandatory functions, President Buhari promised that the Federal Government would provide special intervention as was done in 2020 to the NNMA, within limited resources available.

The Minister of Special Duties and Intergovernmental Affairs, Senator George Akume, had said the three intellectuals emerged winners for the 2020 and 2021 Award after the selection process, from the over 1,200 applications received by the NNOM Governing Board during the period under consideration.

He explained that Professor Charles Ejike Chidume died after he was selected and recommended for approval to Mr. President, saying that his award was posthumous.

The Minister called on Nigerian universities to rise up to the challenge and continue to lead in innovative research targeted at providing solutions to the myriad of problems affecting the country, especially post Covid-19 era.

The Chairman, NNMA Governing Board, Professor Aku had also announced that recipients of the prestigious awards a cash reward of 10 million Naira each.