In a solemn ceremony on September 24, 2025, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu conferred posthumous National Honours on four distinguished Ogoni leaders, recognizing their enduring contributions and sacrifices for the Ogoni people and Nigeria at large. The honoured individuals received the prestigious Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON) award.
The four honoured Ogoni heroes are:
- Chief Edward Kobani (CON)
- Chief Albert Badey (CON)
- Chief Samuel Orage (CON)
- Chief Theophilus Orage (CON)
The ceremony took place at the State House Council Chambers in Abuja, following a report from the Ogoni dialogue committee led by Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara. This initiative forms part of ongoing efforts to acknowledge the historical struggles and injustices faced by the Ogoni community.
President Tinubu’s recognition comes after a broader national reconciliation process that also included the posthumous pardon and honours of other notable Ogoni figures such as Ken Saro-Wiwa and the Ogoni Nine, who courageously stood against environmental degradation and human rights abuses by multinational oil companies in the Niger Delta during the 1990s.
The conferment of these honours aims to heal wounds from past conflicts and celebrates the resilience and leadership of Ogoni sons who have played critical roles in advocating for justice, peace, and sustainable development in Nigeria’s oil-rich Niger Delta region.
This historic gesture was widely welcomed by the Ogoni community and Nigerian civil society, viewed as an important step toward national healing and recognition of the sacrifices made for environmental and social justice.
The honours ceremony underscores President Tinubu’s commitment to addressing legacy issues and fostering unity across Nigeria’s diverse ethnic and regional groups through acknowledgment and respect for outstanding national contributions.
