PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari will be conferring National Merit Award to Professor Olufemi Obafemi for his exploit in creative writing, criticism and drama, and also as a theatre director.
The Nigerian National Merit Award (NNMA) was established by Act No. 53 of 1979 and was amended by Act No. 96 of 1996 now LFN 122 of 2004. The award is named Nigerian National Order of Merit (NNOM) and is a separate Order of Dignity in the highest academic honours in the field of Science, Medicine, Engineering/Technology, and Humanities including Arts and Culture.
Addressing journalists in Abuja, the Chairman Governing Board of NNMA, Professor Shekarau Aku said in this year’s award, only one award winner emerged out of 35 nominations.
“This year, one Award winner has emerged out of about 35 nominations. As chairman of the Governing Board of the NNMA, I am pleased to announce Professor Olufemi Obafemi, who is a creative writer, critic and dramatist as well as theatre director, as a winner in the Humanities.
“As stated in the Act Governing the Nigerian National Merit Award (NNMA), the investiture of the awardee will be statutorily performed by Mr President’ Muhammadu Buhari GCFR, on Thursday 6th December 2018.
ALSO READ: Ogun APC crisis: It’s about 2023
The NNMA as an Agency is charged with the responsibility of selecting all intellectual and creative contributions in all areas of human endeavour, and rewarding unique contributions by the award of the NNMA.
Explaining the process of selecting an awardee, Professor Aku said: “Each year, the NNMA advertise for nominations of candidates for the NNOM Award in the four categories of Engineering/Technology, Medicine, Humanities, including Arts and Culture, and Science.
“The nomination is usually referred to specialized Committees of Assessors by the Board. The Specialized Committees of Assessors may use external Assessors when the need arises, before their recommendations and considered by a committee of chairmen and then the Governing Board and Mr President give his approval.”
and then