…Says honour truly deserved
By Wole Adedeji, Ilorin
Governor of Kwara State, Malam AbdulRahman AbdukRazaq has shared the joy of the moment with the eleven citizens of the State who were among this year’s national awardees.
In a statement in Ilorin, the State capital, Governor AbdulRazaq said all recipients of the 2022 national awards from the state had made great contributions in their careers, leadership and characters to national growth and development.
The 11 Kwarans who made the list had earlier on October 11, 2022 received different national awards which a statement, by the Federal Ministry of Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Affairs confirmed were conferred on them by President Muhammadu Buhari.
These awardees from Kwara included former President of the Nigeria Court of Appeal, Justice Ayo Salami, CFR; Chief Judge of Kwara State, Justice Sulyman Durosinlohun Kawu, OFR; Retired Grand Kadhi of the Kwara State Shariah Court of Appeal, Justice Idris Abdullahi Haroon, OFR; and the immediate past Corps Marshal and Chief Executive of Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) Dr Boboye Oyeyemi, OFR.
Others were Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, CON; renowned neurosurgeon, Prof Wale Suleiman, CON; Grand Mufti of Ilorin Sheikh Suleiman Faruq Onikijipa, OON; Chief Imam of Fouad Lababidi Central Mosque, Abuja, Sheikh Muhammed Tajudeen Adigun, OON; and foremost industrialist Alh. Kamoru Ibitoye Yusuf, MON.
The late football legend, Rashidi Yekeen and Chief Superintendent of Police Benedict Okoh Ajide would also be conferred posthumously as MON, according to the Federal Ministry.
The Governor implored the awardees to be true patriots who have paid their dues in their various professions saying, the decision of the President to honour them aptly captured their services to their fatherland.
His words: “On behalf of the people and government of our state, I felicitate with these outstanding personalities who — in their respective fields — have etched their names in gold. We similarly commend Mr. President for finding these Kwarans worthy of the prestigious national honour,” the Governor concluded.