President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday conferred the Nigerian National Order of Merit (NNOM) Award for years 2020 and 2021 on three Nigerians who distinguished themselves in the field of medicine and science, expressing the belief that the country’s collective future rests on active participation in science and technology.

Conferring the award on late Professor Charles Ejike Chidume, Science (2020), Dr. Oluyinka Olurotimi Olutoye, Medicine (2020); and Professor Godwin O. Samuel Ekhaguere, Science (2021), Buhari said in Abuja that he was very proud to welcome the new Laureates to the prestigious league of highly honoured citizens.

Buhari’s spokesman, Mr Femi Adesina, disclosed this in a statement on Tuesday.

The President said Nigeria would continue to celebrate and trumpet the scholars’ accomplishments as a shining example worthy of emulation by upcoming Nigerian young men and women.

“Please endeavour, at all times, to serve as beacons of hope and aspiration for the younger generation of Nigerians, reminding them that our survival and collective future as a nation ultimately rests on our being active participants in global developmental efforts, especially in science and technology,” Buhari told the recipients.

Buhari noted that since the Nigerian National Merit Award (NNMA) was established forty-three years ago, the addition of the three recipients would bring the total number of recipients to only 79, confirming the high standards of the Award and undeniable testimony of the strict adherence to quality and the merit-driven evaluation procedure for selecting laureates.