President of Dangote Group Alhaji Aliko Dangote was awarded the nation's second highest national honour of Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger (GCON) because of his enterprise and provision of jobs to thousands of Nigerians which contributed in developing the national economy, President Goodluck Jonathan said in Abuja yesterday.The president spoke shortly after conferring various national awards on 355 Nigerians and foreigners who have distinguished themselves in service to their community at the International Conference Centre (ICC), Abuja. The occasion was held under very tight security.He said, 'We must appreciate enterprise and personal contribution to the economy of the country, which Dangote has been able to make in his business interest in the country. If Aliko did not have the business acumen to build that business empire; probably we would not have gotten somebody that could have employed thousands of Nigerians.'He added, 'So those who by their innate abilities, creative energies have been able to make impact in the society even deserve more honours than those of us who are holding political offices.'Jonathan said the criticism that trailed the national honours regarding the criteria used in the selection of the awardees was expected, pointing out that even the most celebrated internal award, the Nobel Prize, is often criticised. He said he had directed the relevant agencies to take note and ensure improvements in future exercise so that it would continue to serve the purpose it is meant for. Jonathan also said people who deliberately worked against their community or the nation could not be expected to be considered for national honours.Responding on behalf of the awardees, Alhaji Aliko Dangote expressed appreciation for the award and described it as a challenge for them and all Nigerians to work harder for the development of the country.The 355 awards conferred yesterday brought the number of such awardees to 3,924 since the exercise began in 1963. A breakdown of the latest awards shows that one person got GCON, 65 got Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON), 38 got Commander of the Order of the Federal Republic (CFR), 74 got Officer of the Order of the Federal Republic (OFR), 69 got Member of the Officer of the Order Federal Republic (MFR), 71 got Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON), 28 got Member of the Order of the Niger (MON), two got First Class Federal Republic Medal and three persons got Second Class Federal Republic Medal.In his welcome address, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) Senator Anyim Pius Anyim said the 2010 edition of the national honours could not take place because of preparations for the 2011 general elections and so, it was joined with this year's edition.Apart from Dangote, other prominent award recipients were Speaker of House of Representatives Aminu Tambuwal, as well as the governors of Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Cross River, Edo, Kaduna, Katsina, Niger, Rivers and Jigawa states. Service Chiefs including Chief of Defence Staff Air Chief Marshal Oluseyi Petirin; Chief of Air Staff Air Marshal Muhammed Dikko Umar; Chief of Naval Staff Vice Admiral Sa'ad Ibrahim; Chief of Army Staff Lt General Azubuike Ihejirika and Police Inspector General Hafiz Ringim also got awards, as did several traditional rulers, including the Lamido of Adamawa, the Emir of Bauchi and the Emir of Lafia.
Click here to read full news..
