President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has announced the award of national honour to some top Nigerian journalists in acknowledgement of the vital roles they played in the struggle for the restoration of democratic rule in Nigeria.
The president made the announcement on Friday in his 2026 Democracy Day speech.
The occasion marks the 27th years of unbroken democratic experience in Nigeria beginning from May 1999.
The president said the national awards were in recognition of the pains they went through in the process of fighting for the restoration of democratic rule.
His words: “I am also pleased to announce national awards to the following Nigerians, who suffered persecution, endured indignities, exile, incarceration, and, at times, solitary confinement, so that we have democracy today.”
“The honours list will be released in the next few days,” he added.
Some of the top journalists to receive the national awards include
former Editor of Concord newspaper, Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Mr. Dele Alake; former Managing Director of The Punch newspaper, Sir Ademola Osinubi; former Deputy Editor-In-Chief of The Punch newspaper, Mr. Bola Bolawole; former Editor of The Punch newspaper, Mr. Gbemiga Ogunleye, and top journalist, Mr. Richard Akinnola.
Others are, Mr. Tunde Fagbenle; Mr. Lade Bonuola; Mr. Femi Kusa; Mr. Olatunji Bello, Louis Odion; Segun Babatope; Sam Omatseye; George Mbah; Mr. Niran Malaolu; Jenkins Alumona; Muyiwa Adekeye; Ben Charles-Obi (Posthumous), and Babajide Kolade-Otitoju of TVC.
The president announced that some top human rights activists and other individuals, including “soldier-democrats of the June 12 struggle” would also be honoured.
The list reads in full:
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
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.
