The Republic

Chapter III · Power

The National Honours

The National Honours Act, No. 5 of 1964 established Nigeria's own honours system — two Orders, eight ranks. Below: every rank, in alphabetical order; inside each rank, every recipient on the record, in chronological order. Each name links to a full profile.

Sash · Star · Collar

Highest civilian honour · Order of the Federal Republic

Grand Commander of the Federal Republic

Established by the National Honours Act, No. 5 of 1964. By convention reserved for the sitting Head of State of Nigeria — conferred at inauguration alongside the Office. Only six Nigerians have ever held it for non-tenure reasons: Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa (posthumous, 2022), Chief Obafemi Awolowo (posthumous, 2022), Chief M.K.O. Abiola (posthumous, 2018) and Chief Gani Fawehinmi (posthumous, 2025 — the first ever conferred on a Nigerian who never held public office).

Order
Federal Republic
Rank
1 of 8
Post-nominal
GCFR
Instituted
1964
Authority
The President
Convention
Head of State

▸GCFRGrand Commander of the Federal Republic

Order of the Federal Republic · 1st rank — highest civilian honour. By convention reserved for the Head of State.
  1. 1999

    Olusegun Obasanjo

    Head of State, 1976–79 · President, 1999–2007

    Twice Head of State. By convention conferred the GCFR upon civilian inauguration in 1999.

  2. 2018posthumous

    Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola

    Winner of the annulled 12 June 1993 presidential election

    Won the freest election in Nigerian history; the result was annulled by IBB. Detained on Abacha's orders in 1994; died in custody, 7 July 1998. Posthumous GCFR, 6 June 2018.

  3. 2022posthumous

    Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa

    First Prime Minister of Nigeria, 1960–66

    First and only Prime Minister of independent Nigeria. Assassinated in the 15 January 1966 coup. Posthumous GCFR conferred by Buhari on Democracy Day silver jubilee.

  4. 2022posthumous

    Chief Obafemi Awolowo

    Premier, Western Region · Leader of Opposition · 1979 & 1983 UPN presidential candidate

    Architect of free primary education in the Western Region, Federal Commissioner for Finance during the Civil War, leader of the Action Group and later the Unity Party of Nigeria. Posthumous GCFR, 2022.

  5. 2025posthumous

    Chief Gani Fawehinmi

    Senior Advocate of the Masses · pro-democracy lawyer

    Senior Advocate of the Masses; founder of the National Conscience Party. Posthumous GCFR conferred on the silver jubilee of June 12, 2025 — the first non-officeholder ever conferred Nigeria's highest honour.

▸GCONGrand Commander of the Order of the Niger

Order of the Niger · 2nd rank — by convention reserved for the Vice-President.
  1. 1979

    Dr. Alex Ifeanyichukwu Ekwueme

    Vice-President of Nigeria, 1979–83

    First elected Vice-President of Nigeria, NPN. Architect of the PDP (1998). Conferred GCON by convention on inauguration.

  2. 1999

    Atiku Abubakar

    Vice-President of Nigeria, 1999–2007

    Vice-President under Obasanjo. Multiple-time presidential candidate. GCON conferred on inauguration.

▸CFRCommander of the Federal Republic

Order of the Federal Republic · 3rd rank
  1. 1986returned

    Prof. Wole Soyinka

    1986 Nobel Laureate in Literature

    First Black African Nobel Laureate in Literature. Conferred CFR. Returned/declined later state honours during the Abacha years in political protest.

  2. 2003

    Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala

    Twice Federal Minister of Finance · Director-General, WTO

    Federal Minister of Finance 2003–06 and 2011–15. First African and first woman Director-General of the World Trade Organization since March 2021. CFR.

  3. 2011

    Alhaji Aliko Dangote

    Founder and Chairman, Dangote Group

    Africa's wealthiest industrialist. Cement, sugar, fertiliser and (since 2024) refining. CFR.

▸CONCommander of the Order of the Niger

Order of the Niger · 4th rank
  1. 2005

    Mallam Nuhu Ribadu

    Pioneer Chair, EFCC · National Security Adviser

    Pioneer chair of the EFCC (2003–07). National Security Adviser, 2023–. CON.

▸OFROfficer of the Federal Republic

Order of the Federal Republic · 5th rank
  1. 1958

    Hogan 'Kid' Bassey

    World Featherweight Boxing Champion, 1957–59

    First Nigerian world boxing champion. Won the WBC featherweight title by KO over Cherif Hamia in Paris, 24 June 1957.

▸OONOfficer of the Order of the Niger

Order of the Niger · 6th rank
  1. 1996

    Nwankwo Kanu

    Olympic gold medallist; two-time African Footballer of the Year

    Captained Nigeria's U-17 World Cup-winning team (1993). Olympic football gold, Atlanta 1996. African Footballer of the Year, 1996 and 1999.

▸MFRMember of the Federal Republic

Order of the Federal Republic · 7th rank

No recipients yet on the record. The archive is being compiled.

▸MONMember of the Order of the Niger

Order of the Niger · 8th rank — most populous

No recipients yet on the record. The archive is being compiled.

▸GCMGKnight Grand Cross, Order of St Michael & St George

Colonial / Imperial honour · Pre-1964

No recipients yet on the record. The archive is being compiled.

▸KBEKnight Commander, Order of the British Empire

Colonial / Imperial honour · Pre-1964
  1. 1929

    Sir Kitoyi Ajasa

    Lawyer · founding member of the Lagos Council

    First Nigerian KBE. Editor of the Nigerian Pioneer; founding member of the Lagos Council.

  2. 1945

    Sir Adeyemo Alakija

    Co-founder of the Daily Times of Nigeria

    Lawyer, businessman, founding Chairman of the Daily Times (1925). KBE, 1945 — among the highest British honours held by a Nigerian then resident.

▸DeclinedDeclined, returned or never conferred

— · On the record for political or principled reasons
  1. 2011declined

    Prof. Chinua Achebe

    Author of Things Fall Apart

    Twice offered and twice declined the CFR (2004 under Obasanjo; 2011 under Jonathan), citing the politics of his native Anambra State.

Sources — National Honours Act, No. 5 of 1964 (CAP N122 LFN 2004); Federal Republic of Nigeria honours lists, 1964–present; Aso Rock and State House communiqués.