June 12: President Tinubu To Honours Dr.Niran Malaolu , Other Nigerians With National Awards As Heroes of Democracy

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has listed Chief Executive Officer of Rockcityfm, Abeokuta , Dr. Niran Malaolu and several other Nigerians who fought for the survival of democracy in Nigeria during June 12, 1993 struggle, for national awards 

He also announced the revitalisation and renaming of the completed Institute of Petroleum Studies, Kaduna, as the General Shehu Musa Yar’Adua University of Geological Sciences and Engineering Technology as approved by the Federal Government 

President Tinubu in his nationwide broadcast marking the 2026 National Democracy Day on Friday, described awardees as architects of modern democratic Nigeria

Those listed with the veteran journalist, Malaolu, for the national awards included Barrister Ayoka Lawani,Tunde Fagbenle, Oladele Alake, Olatunji Bello, Louis Odion, Segun Babatope, Sam Omatseye, Sir Ademola Osinubi, Bola Bolawole, Lade Bonuola

Femi Kusa, Debo Adeniran, Chief Ayo Opadokun and Chief Ralph Obiora, 

Also to be given national awards are Ose Osayande, Barrister Osa Director, 

Prof. Sylvester Odion-Akhaine, Dr Arthur Nwankwo (Posthumous), Dr Osagie Obayuwana, Dr Joe Okei-Odumakin

Barrister Titus Mann, Joe Igbokwe,

Richard Akinnola,Ben Charles-Obi (Posthumous), George Mbah,

Major-General Ishola Williams (rtd),

Femi Aborisade, Jenkins Alumona, Gbemiga Ogunleye, Muyiwa Adekeye

Babajide Kolade-Otitoju and Ike Okonta

The President also recognised those he described as soldier-democrats of the June 12 struggle which included Major General MA Garba, Brigadier General Lawal Jaafaru Isa, Col Umar Farouk Ahmed; Col Sambo Dasuki; Col Lawan Gwadabe; Brigadier Jonathan Ndam Temlong, Col Musa Shehu; Major General Chris Eze; Major General Harris Dzarma; Col Isa Jibrin; Maj. General Joseph Oshanupin; Col Olusegun Oloruntoba, Olugbede of Gbede Kingdom) Lieutenant Colonel Happy Kefas Bulus, Col J Okai; Col Emmanuel Ndubueze; Lt Col Yakubu Muazu and Brigadier Yahaya Abubakar, the Current Etsu Nupe, who is already the holder of the CFR title.

Tinubu promised that the honours list would will be released in the next few days.

The awardees according to him, had suffered persecution, endured indignities, exile, incarceration, and, at times, solitary confinement, for democracy to survive today in the country 

President Tinubu charged Nigerians to embrace unity and have confidence in survival of the country where justice is accessible, liberty is secure, and opportunity is abundant.

"Let us move forward together—rejecting division, cynicism, and despair; embracing unity, hope, and confidence. Let us build a Nigeria united by a common purpose, strengthened by diversity, where justice is accessible, liberty is secure, and opportunity is abundant"

"Fellow Nigerians, 27 years ago, many doubted democracy would survive here because of our diversity. Today, our diversity sustains our democracy. The road ahead is steep. But June 12 reminds us: Nigerians do not break. We bend, we bleed, but we do not break"

"Let us renew our covenant: That the labours of our heroes past shall never be in vain, and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from this land", he urged