By JKNewsMedia
A CIVIC outcry has followed government proposals to merge Nigeria’s top intellectual accolade, the Nigerian National Merit Award (NNMA), with the broader National Honour Award (NHA).
The Conscience Foundation (CF), a non-profit championing democracy, human rights, and governance, has sharply rejected the move, warning it risks diluting academic excellence with politicised honours.
In a statement signed by Bunmi Oyekanmi, Secretary, CF, it notes that the NNMA was instituted in 1979 to recognise groundbreaking achievements in science, medicine, humanities, and the arts.
Unlike the NHA —which rewards public service and national contributions through ranks such as CFR and MFR—the NNMA focuses exclusively on academic merit and national intellectual development.
While acknowledging potential administrative benefits like streamlining the awards process and reducing duplication, the Conscience Foundation warned of deeper risks.
The group said the merger could obscure the NNMA’s core mandate and compromise its integrity.
Among their chief concerns is the fear that merging the honours would introduce political bias into an award system historically rooted in scholarly rigour and impartial evaluation.
“How do we ensure the merged award maintains its integrity and avoids politicisation?” the Foundation asked pointedly in its statement. It also flagged the likely difficulty of establishing clear and rigorous selection criteria under a merged system, risking the devaluation of both honours.
During a stakeholders’ session at the National Assembly on Wednesday, 21 May 2025, Dr Onwusoro Ihemelandu, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Affairs, firmly aligned with the Foundation’s position.
He reiterated the Ministry’s resistance to the proposed merger, insisting the awards served distinct purposes and relied on fundamentally different assessment frameworks.
He emphasised that while National Honours are often politically influenced, the NNMA remains Nigeria’s closest equivalent to the Nobel Prize—anchored in a meticulous and unbiased selection process that ensures only the most deserving scholars and professionals are recognised.
The CF, backed by youth, women, and community stakeholders, appealed to the National Assembly to uphold the independence of both awards.
It also called for greater financial support and visibility for the NNMA to elevate its status as a national beacon for intellectual excellence.
