The Order of the Niger (OON) is the second highest national award in Nigeria. It was instituted in 1963 and is junior to the Order of the Federal Republic (OFR), the highest order of merit in the country.
Award The two highest honours, the Grand Commander of the Order of the Federal Republic (GCFR), and Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger (GCON), are awarded to the president and vice-president, respectively. The presiding judge in the Supreme Court and the chairman of the Senate are, respectively, a qualitative and ex officio Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger.
Grades Nigeria followed the British example in the form and structure of the order. Similarly, there are post-nominal letters for members of the Order of the Niger. Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger (GCON) Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON) Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON) Member of the Order of the Niger (MON)
The order has a Civil Division and a Military Division. The ribbon of the latter division has a small red line in the middle.
Notable recipients Notable recipients of the award include: No.NameStatusSectorClass of medal1Alex Ifeanyichukwu EkwuemeFormer Vice President of NigeriaPublicGCON2Aliko DangoteChairman of Dangote GroupPrivateGCON3Aloma Mariam MukhtarFormer Justice of the Supreme CourtPublicGCON4Atiku AbubakarFormer Vice President of NigeriaPublicGCON5Babafemi OgundipeFormer Chief of Staff, Supreme HeadquartersPublicGCON6Bello Maitama YusufFormer Internal Affairs MinisterPublicGCON7Dahiru MusdapherFormer Justice of the Supreme CourtPublicGCON8Emeka AnyaokuFormer Secretary-General of the CommonwealthPublicGCON9Godswill AkpabioPresident of the 10th Nigerian SenatePublicGCON10Goodluck Ebele JonathanFormer Vice President and President of NigeriaPublicGCON11Kashim ShettimaCurrent Vice President of NigeriaPublicGCON12Kudirat Kekere-EkunChief Justice of NigeriaPublicGCON13Namadi SamboFormer Vice President of NigeriaPublicGCON14Narendra ModiPrime Minister of IndiaPublicGCON15Wole SoyinkaRecipient of the 1986 Nobel Prize in LiteratureAcademiaGCON16Yemi Osinbajo, SANFormer Vice President of NigeriaPublicGCON17Abba KyariFormer Governor North Central StatePublicCON18Adams OshiomholeFormer Governor, Edo State and Senator, Edo North CentralPublicCON19Afe Babalola, SANFounder of Afe Babalola University, Senior Advocate of NigeriaPrivateCON20Ahmad Muhammad Sani IIEmir of GumelPublicCON21Akin MabogunjeGeographer Consultant and First African President of the International Geographical UnionPrivate and PublicCON22Atedo PetersideFounder, Stanbic IBTC Bank Plc, Anap Business Jets Limited, and The Atedo N. A. Peterside FoundationPrivateCON23Bala MuhammedGovernor of Bauchi StatePublicCON24Bukar Abba IbrahimFormer Governor of Yobe StatePublicCON25Chukwuemeka EzeifeFormer Governor Anambra StatePublicCON26Da. John Putmang HirseTraditional Ruler, Miskaham MwaghavulPublicCON27Emeka OkwuosaChairman/GCEO, OilServ LimitedPrivateCON28Ezenwo Nyesom WikeFormer Governor of Rivers State and Minister of Federal Capital TerritoryPublicCON29Francesca Yetunde EmanuelFormer Permanent Secretary, Public Service Department of the Cabinet OfficePublicCON30Ibrahim Shehu ShemaFormer Governor of Katsina StatePublicCON31Isiaka AdelekeFormer Governor, Osun State, and former Senator, Osun WestPublicCON32John Odigie OyegunFormer Governor, Edo StatePublicCON33Lam AdesinaFormer Governor of Oyo StatePublicCON34Liyel ImokeFormer Governor, Cross River StatePublicCON35Arisekola AlaoPhilanthropist and Aare Musulumi of YorubalandPrivateCON36Oba OtudekoFounder and chairman of the Honeywell Group and Oba Otudeko FoundationPrivateCON37Olusegun AgaguFormer Governor of Ondo State, and renowned GeologistPublicCON38Patrick Ibrahim YakowaFormer Governor of Kaduna StatePublicCON39Peter Gregory ObiFormer Governor, Anambra State and 2023 Labour Party Presidential CandidatePublicCON40Isa Ali PantamiFormer Minister of Communications and Digital EconomyPublicCON41Rotimi AmaechiFormer Governor of Rivers State and Former Minister of TransportationPublicCON42Rufus Ada GeorgeFormer Governor, Rivers StatePublicCON43Stephen KeshiFootball coach, 2013 Africa Cup of Nations final winnerSportCON44Sule LamidoFormer Governor, Jigawa StatePublicCON45Sunday DareFormer Minister of Youth and SportsPublicCON46Tony ElumeluPhilanthropistPrivateCON47Victor Ndoma-Egba, SANFormer Senate Leader, Senior Advocate of NigeriaPublicCON48Abike Kafayat Oluwatoyin Dabiri-ErewaChairman/CEO of Nigerians in Diaspora CommissionPublicOON49Bashir AhmadFormer Personal Assistant to the President on Digital and New MediaPublicOON50Charles OkpalekeNigerian businessman and film producerPrivateOON51Chief Erhabor Ogieva EmokpaeFormer National Artist of NigeriaPublicOON52Chief H.T.O. CokerPrivate Attorney in Admiralty, Energy and Aviation LawPrivateOON53David Adedeji AdelekeSinger, songwriter, record producerEntertainmentOON54Dr. F.B.A. CokerConsultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist, businessman and Chairman of Victoria Island Consultancy and Hospital ServicesPrivateOON55Gabriel OgbechieFounder GMD, Rainoil LimitedPrivateOON56Iyin AboyejiFormer CEO, Flutterwave & Co-founder, AndelaPrivateOON57Iyorwuese HagherFormer Minister of State for Health/Power and Steel, and Ambassador to Mexico and High Commissioner to CanadaPublicOON58Joe AbbahFormer Director General, Bureau of Public Service ReformsPublicOON59Joseph YoboFootballer, 2013 Africa Cup of Nations final winnerSportOON60Kayode Ajulo, SANLawyer, arbitrator & civil rights activistPrivateOON61Kingsley MoghaluFormer Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Political EconomistPublicOON62Major General Bitrus Vandos Themoi KwajiMajor General of the Nigerian Army (Retd.)PublicOON63Nimi BriggsEmeritus Professor of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, and Former Vice Chancellor, University of Port-Harcourt, Rivers StatePublicOON64Owen OmogiafoPresident/GCEO, Transnational Corporation of Nigeria (Transcorp)PrivateOON65Sani Umar Rijiyar Lemo, Bashir Aliyu UmarSalafism Preacher in NigeriaPrivateOON66Sheikh Muhammad Salih BashirReligious LeaderPrivateOON67Stella OduahFormer Minister of AviationPublicOON68Tobi AmusanWorld, Commonwealth and African champion of the 100 meters hurdlesSportOON69Victor OlaiyaRenowned Musician, and TrumpeterPrivateOON70Asisat OshoalaAthleteSportMON71Dosu JosephFootballerSportMON72Efe AmbroseFootballerSportMON73Francis Uzoho, Ola Aina, Zaidu Sanusi, Alhassan Yusuf, William Troost-Ekong, Semi Ajayi, Ahmed Musa, Frank Onyeka, Victor Osimhen, Joe Aribo, Samuel Chukwueze, Bright Osayi-Samuel, Bruno Onyemaechi, Kelechi Iheanacho, Moses Simon, Olorunleke Ojo, Alex Iwobi, Ademola Lookman, Paul Onuachu, Chidozie Awaziem, Calvin Bassey, Kenneth Omeruo, Stanley Nwabali, Terem Moffi, Raphael OnyedikaFootballers, 2023 Africa Cup of Nations runners-upSportMON74Habeeb OkunolaCEO, TILT GroupPrivateMON75Joseph Oqua AnsaFormer Senator, Cross River SouthPublicMON76K1 De UltimateFuji MusicianEntertainmentMON77Mohammed Badaru AbubakarMinister of Defence, Former Governor of Jigawa StatePublicMON78Orji Uzor KaluSenator representing Abia North, Former Governor of Abia StatePublicMON79Teniola ApataSinger, Songwriter and EntertainerPrivateMON80Vincent Enyeama, Elderson Echiéjilé, Nwankwo Obiora, Efe Ambrose, Ahmed Musa, Brown Ideye, Azubuike Egwuekwe, Emmanuel Emenike, Mikel John Obi, Victor Moses, Reuben Gabriel, Fegor Ogude, Godfrey Oboabona, Austin Ejide, Ikechukwu Uche, Ogenyi Onazi, Ejike Uzoenyi, Sunday Mba, Nosa Igiebor, Juwon Oshaniwa, Kenneth Omeruo, Chigozie AgbimFootballers, 2013 Africa Cup of Nations final winnersSportMON81Sunday Ola MakindeClergy & Nationalist, Prelate Emeritus, Methodist Church NigeriaPublicCON
References
External links World Medals Index: Nigeria — Order of the Niger