• Nigeria conferred its national award — the Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger — on Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his statesmanship and stellar contribution to fostering bilateral ties, making him the second foreign dignitary to receive the distinction after Queen Elizabeth.

• In a ceremony at the State House on November 17, Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu conferred the national award on PM Modi.

• PM Modi is the first foreign leader to be conferred with this award since 1969. Queen Elizabeth was awarded Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger in 1969.

• The award citation notes that under the Prime Minister’s visionary leadership, India has been positioned as a global powerhouse, and his transformative governance has fostered unity, peace and shared prosperity for all.

• This was the 17th such international award conferred on Modi by a country.

Grand Commander of the Order of Niger

• The Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger (GCON) is one of the highest national honors awarded by the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

• It recognises outstanding contributions to the nation in various fields.

• It is the second-highest honour in Nigeria, following the Grand Commander of the Order of the Federal Republic (GCFR).

• The order was instituted in 1963, following Nigeria’s establishment as a republic.

Award Categories:

• The Order of the Niger has multiple classes, with GCON being the most prestigious.

• Other classes include Commander (CON), Officer (OON), and Member (MON).

Eligibility:

• Typically awarded to individuals who have made significant achievements in public service, the economy, or other areas contributing to national development.

• Reserved for high-ranking officials such as the Vice President, Senate President, and other eminent personalities.

Global awards conferred on PM Modi

• Nigeria: Grand Commander of The Order of the Niger

• Dominica: Award of Honour

• Russia: Order of St. Andrew the Apostle

• Greece: Grand Cross of the Order of Honour

• France: Grand Cross of the Legion

• Egypt: Order of the Nile

• Republic of Palau: Ebakl Award

• Papua New Guinea: Order of Logohu

• Fiji: Order of Fiji

• Bhutan: Order of the Druk Gyalpo

• United States: Legion of Merit

• Bahrain: King Hamad Order of the Renaissance

• Maldives: Order of Nishan Izzuddin

• United Arab Emirates: Order of Zayed Award

• Palestine: Grand Collar of the State of Palestine

• Afghanistan: State Order of Ghazi Amir Amanullah Khan

• Saudi Arabia: Order of King Abdulaziz.

(The author is a trainer for Civil Services aspirants.)