At the 2022 National Honours Award Investiture ceremony at the International Conference Centre in Abuja on Tuesday, October 11, President Muhammadu Buhari presented National Awards to a diverse range of Nigerians, including Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, director-general of the World Trade Organization; Burna Boy; 2Baba; Teni; and many more.
The Member of the Order of the Federal Republic (MFR) was awarded to seventy-four individuals, including Burna Boy, while 2Baba and Teni received the Member of the Order of the Niger (MON).
The highest honour, Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger (GCON), went to Ahmed Ibrahim Lawan, Olukayode Ariwoola, Ibrahim Tanko Muhammad, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Amina J. Mohammed, and Tijjani Muhammad-Bande.
The Officer of the Order of the Federal Republic was awarded to Anthony Joshua, Olugbenga Agboola, Ezra Olubi, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, and Femi Adesina were conferred with Officer of the Order of Niger (OON).
The ceremony has however garnered mixed reactions from different quarters. Singer Teni Apata came under heavy backlash on social media over claims of disrespect to President Muhammadu Buhari while accepting her national honour.
Teni was conferred with the title of Member of the Order of the Niger (MON). In a video making rounds on social media, the 29-year-old is seen receiving the award from Buhari without a handshake which many claimed was an act of disrespect to the president.
See video and some of the reactions below:
The shocking moment Teni walked out of Buhari after receiving her national award without greeting him🙆🏾♂️
She literally remembers, that Anthony Joshua has lule several times after a handshake🤝with the president, so she doesn’t want to risk her career🤣
Buhari’s reaction tho😂 pic.twitter.com/AdBBGvU2NC
— Chinaza #PeterObi-HypeMan Ⓜ️ (@MuchTalksBlog1) October 12, 2022
That Teni girl is a very stupid girl for what she did to President Muhammad Buhari and I’m not even his fan
— Sarki. (@Waspapping_) October 12, 2022
Buhari didn't extend his hand to shake her
It is not their culture to shake women most times they pat your back
You guys should stop dragging Teni
— May Akpan (@MayAkpan) October 12, 2022
What Teni did to the President of the federal republic of Nigeria ( Buhari ) is what most Youths do to their parents at home.
The call it WOKE-NESS
That's those same youth see it as WOKE-NESS to insult others for their choice & wish death & sickness in the name of DRAGGING.
— SHOL∆ 🆖 (@Shola2Nautie) October 11, 2022
If I was Teni, once I reached that stage and collected the award, I would kneek down immediately and clean Buhari’s shoes.
I would not stop there but proceed to donate myself to a lifetime of servanthood.
I must show absolute & total respect! Especially as a woman, you know.
— Rinu Oduala 🔥🔫 (@SavvyRinu) October 12, 2022
Co-founder of Paystack Ezra Olubi was not left out as he left a significant mark on President Muhammadu Buhari which got many talking.
Olubi was conferred with the Officer of the Order of Niger alongside his co-founder, Shola Akinlade. Olubi was wearing a black outfit with pleats flowing from the neckline down the front. He also wore lipstick and makeup.
Buhari smiled as he handed over the award but kept staring at Olubi, as the latter moved back to his seat.
The reaction of the president has been trending on social media. See video and some comments below:
Congratulations Ezra Olubi 🎉
Why is President Buhari looking at him like that? pic.twitter.com/0EAkmPtdjR
— 🤍🍬🐳 @OneJoblessBoy (@OneJoblessBoy) October 11, 2022
People are not worried that a failed Minister of Education is getting a national award, they are worried that Paystack Ezra Olubi “didn’t dress to impress their daddy” and Teni didn’t dobalè for emperor Buhari.
I don taya for una. I swear
— FS Yusuf (@FS_Yusuf_) October 12, 2022
Buhari’s look in that video with Ezra na wetin dem call “culture shock”. Most likely the lipstick. Happens to everyone, depending on what they aren’t used to seeing. They eventually get used to it, then their spectrum of “normal” expands even more.
— JJ. Omojuwa (@Omojuwa) October 11, 2022
If nobody dey there Buhari for pull Ezra shirt say come back here you poolish boy
— Waemon Targaryen (@Wana____) October 11, 2022
Burnaboy has also received his own share of online ‘dragging’ for ‘ignoring’, President Buhari by not showing up for the ceremony.
While delivering his speech, President Buhari hailed Nigerian entertainment industry and specifically showered encomium on Burnaboy but the ‘African Giant’ was absent. Burna’s father however received the award on his behalf.
The moment Grammy award winner and " Last Last " crooner, Burna Boy's father, receives his son's well-deserved national honour from President Buhari. pic.twitter.com/Voy3Znu5Cz
— Saint Anthony 🇳🇬 ✊ (@my3kidsare1) October 11, 2022