By Ghazali Ibrahim
President Bola Tinubu on Friday conferred national honours on 50 Nigerians who played key roles in the pro-democracy struggle, recognising their sacrifices in the fight against military dictatorship.
The 2026 Democracy Day honours list includes journalists, civil rights leaders, and senior military officers who endured persecution, exile, and incarceration to secure political freedom for Nigeria.
“June 12 occupies a sacred place in our national memory. It represents more than an election; it is a defining chapter in our story,” the president said in his address.
“As beneficiaries of their struggle, we have a duty to strengthen and deepen the democratic institutions for which they fought. The greatest tribute we can pay is to build a Nigeria where freedom is protected, justice is upheld, opportunity is expanded, and government is accountable.”
President Tinubu also highlighted the ongoing challenge of securing economic freedom, noting, “Democracy must be felt in the quality of people’s lives, in opportunities for youth, prosperous farmers, successful entrepreneurs, and the dignity of our workers. Every generation has a defining responsibility.
The generation of our founding fathers secured independence, the generation of June 12 secured democracy. Our generation must secure prosperity.”
Below is a Full List of Awardees
Civilian Honourees:
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
Military Honourees (“Soldier-Democrats”):
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
Brigadier Yahaya Abubakar (Current Etsu Nupe, CFR)
The president said the full honours list will be officially released in the coming days.
