UK high commissioner Sarafa Ishola and Abike Dabiri-Erewa among those given national honours

NIGERIA Diaspora Commission (Nidcom) chairperson Hon Abike Dabiri-Erewa and the Nigerian high commissioner to the UK Ambassador Sarafa Ishola are among several prominent Nigerians honoured in this year's National Honours Award.

To be handed out at a ceremony in Abuja today b President Muhammadu Buhari, the awards are going to several prominent Nigerians who have excelled in different fields. Among them are Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, the chief justice of Nigeria Justice Olukayode Ariwoola and his predecessor Justice Tanko Mohammed.

In the case of Hon Dabiri-Erewa, she is enjoying a double celebration as the conferment coincides with her 60th birthday tomorrow. At the event taking place at the  be held at International Conference Centre in Abuja, Ambassador Ishola will receive the Officer of the Order of the Federal Republic, while Hon Dabiri-Erewa will be conferred with the Officer of the Order of the Niger.

Hon Dabiri-Erewa said: "I am very grateful to God for this aware and coincidentally, it coincides with my 60th birthday. I will be celebrating both events later on in the year when I come to the UK for the Central Association of Nigerians in the UK's (Canuk) end-of-year party on December 17."

Ambassador Ishola, who has flown to Nigeria for the event, has been high commissioner to the UK since 2021. He will be the chief host at Canuk's gala dinner on December 17, where among other things, there will be cultural displays and the unveiling of several diaspora packages.