President of Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, has expressed delight at the news of being awarded the Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger, the nation's second highest award previously the exclusive preserve of Vice Presidents, Senate Presidents and Chief Justices of Nigeria.
In his first reaction to the news, Dangote said he was elated and surprised that he was considered worthy for such a high national honour.
He told NIGERIANFACTORS,: "I am really elated and surprised by this honour considering that it is usually for very highly placed government officials such as Vice Presidents, Senate Presidents and Chief Justices of the Federation. I am really excited and feel greatly honoured by this government.
"The challenge now is for me to work hard to justify this honour. As you know, awards of this nature come with a high degree of responsibility."
On how he first got wind of the news of the award, he revealed that a friend sent him a text message Friday night to alert him.
"I think this is a very direct message to us in the business community that the government is taking notice of our effort, and I will like to call on all members of the private sector to redouble their effort towards building a strong and virile nation."
By this award, Dangote has become the first individual outside government to clinch the coveted award.
Meanwhile, the National Honour Award Committee of the Special Duties Secretariat has defended its landmark choice to honour Dangote with the award of GCON, saying that it’s within the constitutional right of President Jonathan to so do.
Speaking to NIGERIANFACTORS, the Secretary, National Honours Merit Award Committee, Mr. Adeyemi Tunde, made it clear that it is within the constitutional right of President Goodluck Jonathan to approve honours award to deserving citizens of the country including all those to be honoured this year.
He said: "Giving honour to anybody in the country is the constitutional right of Mr. President (Jonathan). So I don’t see what is wrong with that."
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