President Muhammadu Buhari has presented national honours to 447 Nigerians and friends of the country.
Nigerian Media Mogul Nduka Obaigbena, founder of THISDAY ARISE Media Group received a Commander of the Order of The Niger (CON) award.
Other prominent Nigerians that were given awards include Director General of the World Trade Organization, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo Iweala , United Nations Deputy Secretary General, Ms. Amina J. Mohammed, and Chairman Heirs Holdings, Tony O. Elumelu.
The 2022 National Honours Award Investiture took place at the International Conference Centre, State House in Abuja on Tuesday.
The recipients were awarded with the Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger (GCON), Commander of the Order of the Federal Republic (CFR) and Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON).
Other recipients include Jim Ovia, Chairman of Zenith Bank; Herbert Wigwe, Access Bank CEO, and Mike Ozekhome, a senior advocate of Nigeria (SAN).
Abba Kyari, the former chief of staff to the president, received a posthumous CFR award which was presented to his daughter.
Prince Nduka Obaigbena (CON)
Obaigbena, a prince of Owa kingdom in Delta State, is a Nigerian an entrepreneur and media mogul.
He founded the Nigerian based African newspaper THISDAY in 1995.
In 2000 Obaigbena founded the annual THISDAY Awards which honour those who made contributions to Nigerian society in the political arena, global business, Women of distinction, and leading figures in the Nigerian education sector.
In 2013 he launched a 24-hour international TV news channel with an African focus, ARISE News, signing a contract with UK Sky platform with bases in London, New York City, Johannesburg, and Lagos.
Obaigbena started the THISDAY Music and Fashion Festivals in 2006.The event included several musical acts such as Beyonce, Jay Z, Rihanna, John Legend, Lionel Richie, Dianna Ross, Alicia Keys, Mary J Blige, Snoop Dogg, 50 Cent, Busta Rhyme, Black Eyed Peas, Missy Elliott, Usher, Naomi Campbell, Alec Wek, Liya Kedebe, Oluchi and others.
He also founded African style & culture ARISE Magazine. The publication was launched at the THISDAY Music & Fashion Festival at London’s Royal Albert Hall on October 14, 2008 and powered The ARISE (AFRICA ) FASHION Week starting in Johannesburg and Cape Town, South Africa, and later finding a home in Lagos Nigeria – after shows with the African Fashion Collectives in the Royal Albert Hall, London; Kennedy Centre, Washington DC; Lincoln Centre, New York. The ARISE Fashion Week also featured a few years at The New York and Paris Fashion Weeks and notably, against the backdrop of the Burj Khalifa in Dubai.
Nduka Obaigbena has also won the Media Giant for Africa Highest Honour award.
He was born in Ibadan, South West, Nigeria on July 14, 1959 into the royal family of Owa Kingdom, Delta State.
Obaigbena attended Edo College, Benin City, and the University of Benin.
He attended the Graduate School of Business at the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg and Advanced Management Programme at the University of Cape Town.
Prior to launching THISDAY Newspaper and ARISE News, Obaigbena was a senatorial candidate in 1991.
In 1994, he was elected a member of the Nigeria’s national constitutional conference.
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Charles Faith
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