FG releases names of 2013 Nigerian National Merit Award list

After weeks of rigorous screening, the
Federal Government yesterday
announced the names of three
distinguished Nigerians that have been
pencilled down to receive this year's
Nigerian National Merit Award
(NNMA).
The three distinguished Nigerians
drawn from Science, Humanities and
Engineering/Technology, include
Professors Seth Sunday Ajayi, Francis
Abiodun Irele and Hillary Iyang Iyang.
Professor Ajayi is a major figure in the
international community of scholars in
Wildlife Conservative and
Environmental Protection and
Management. Professor Irele is an
author of over a hundred papers,
while Professor Iyang is an
acknowledged leader in research.
Making the announcement to
journalists in Abuja, the Chairman of
the governing board of NNMA,
Oluwafeyisola Sylvester Adegoke, who
incidentally was the only recipient of
the award in 1987, said President
Goodluck Jonathan will on December 5
at the presidential villa confer the
awards on the recipients.
Adegoke said: "In compliance with the
provision of the Act setting up the
NNMA, the recipients will be conferred
with the award by President Goodluck
Jonathan. With this new class of
laureates, a total number of 70
Nigerians would have been conferred
with the prestigious award since it was
established in 1979.
"Over 40 candidates within Nigeria
and in Diaspora were nominated for
the award. At the conclusion of our
very rigorous, merit-driven, 3-stage
assessment process, only three
Nigerians were approved for the
award by the Governing Board of the
NNMA.
"It may also interest you to note that in
all its 34 years of existence, the NNMA
has conducted a controversy-free
award, for which it has consistently
earned national and world-wide
respect."
Series of lectures have also been lined
up by the board of NNMA.
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