Nigerian Billionaire Mike Adenuga Gets Highest National Honor

Nigerian billionaire Mike Adenuga is to be conferred with the Nigerian national award of Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger, the Nigerian government announced over the weekend.

Adenuga, worth $4.3 billion by FORBES’ estimate in March, will be the second Nigerian individual outside government to receive the award, which is Nigeria’s second highest national honor. Last year, Nigerian billionaire Aliko Dangote became the first Nigerian outside government to receive the prestigious honor. Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan nominated Adenuga for the honor in recognition of his immense contributions to the Nigerian economy. Adenuga’s companies, which span the energy, telecommunications and real estate sectors, employ several thousand people in Nigeria and Ghana.

The Great Commander  of the Order of Niger (GCON) is the Nigeria’s second highest national honor, after the Grand Commander of the Federal Republic (GCFR) – an award which is only reserved for Nigerian Presidents and Heads of state. Up until last year, the GCON had only been awarded to Vice-Presidents, Chief Justices of the country and Senate Presidents.

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