President Bola Tinubu on Thursday approved the conferment of 959 national honours.

The development came to light after the president’s meeting of the National Council of State at the State House, Abuja.

Emanso Umobong, the permanent secretary at the Cabinet Affairs Office, told journalists that the council approved national honours for 959 individuals for outstanding contributions to national development.

Addressing State House correspondents after the meetings, Ms Umobong said the president approved the report of the National Honours Award Committee for 2024 and 2025, as well as special awards that were earlier bestowed by the president from January 2025 to date.

According to Ms Umobong, the current honours committee, reconstituted in August 2021 and chaired by Justice Sidi Bage, screened over 5,000 applications before recommending 824 recipients for the 2024/2025 national honours and 135 special awardees, totalling 959 honourees.

“The award of titles of honour and decorations of dignitaries is a yearly event at which the president honours deserving nationals and non-nationals who have distinguished themselves in the service of the nation and humanity,” she said.

Ms Umobong added, “After diligent screening and selection by the committee, a total of 824 successful applicants were recommended for the 2024/2025 national honours and 135 special awards by the president, bringing it to a total of 959 awardees.”