By: Ene Asuquo
Cross River State Governor, prof. Ben Ayade, and former chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ibok Ete Ibas were amongst cross Riverians who were Honoured with National Award recently by the President, Muhammadu Buhari in the Nation’s capital
437 Nigerians and foreigners who made outstanding contributions in leadership and governance, Military profession, public Officers, Religious leaders, Traditional Rulers, business and corporate Executives, academic, and in the area of philanthropy among other areas were presented with National Honours Awards, 2022 Edition.
The Governor who backed the Award of “Commander of the order of the Niger”(CON)alone side other five distinguished Cross Riverians who made the list of the recipients of the National Awards
He is also among the 12 serving governors that made the CON list of 67 recipients in that category.
Others are the governors of Yobe, Ondo, Kebbi, Ebonyi, Enugu, Plateau, Taraba, Kaduna, Ekiti, Delta, and Borno states.
Another prominent son of the state, the former Chief of Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas is the recipient of the second highest National Honours Award of Commander of the Order of the Federal Republic (CFR).
Other Cross Riverians who were honoured in the 2022 National Honours award are, the former Auditor-General of the Federation, Mr. Anthony Mkpa Ayine, (Rtd.), and Amb. Anthonia A. Ekpa, retired Permanent Secretary who are both recipients of the Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON), while a philanthropist, Evan. Blessing Bassey Duke, and a Business Executive, Gershom E. Henshaw both made the list of the National Honour Award of “Member of the Order of Niger
Mr. Anthony Mkpa Ayine, retired Auditor-General of the Federation and Amb. Anthonia A. Ekpa, a retired Permanent Secretary who are recipients of the national honour award of OON all brought honour to the state as the award is a reflection of their meritorious service to their father land as career public or Civil Officers while in active service.
The two recipients of the national honour award of Member of the Order of the Federal Republic (MFR), Evan. Blessing, Bassey Duke, a philanthropist and Mr. Gershom Henshaw, a Business Executive also distinguished themselves in the areas of philanthropy and business acumen and as such deserved the national honour award.
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