The governor of Borno State His Excellency Governor Professor Babagana Umara Zulum has bagged a Nigerien National award equivalent to GCON, he was decorated by Niger Republic President Mohammed Bazoum. This happened on Tuesday the 3rd of August 2021. Babagana Umara Zulum was decorated with the Country’s “de Grand Officer dans I`Ordre”, which is the equivalent of Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger, GCON, in Nigeria’s ranking of national honours.
Bazoum said he was honouring Zulum after monitoring the Governor’s courage, sincere fight against Boko Haram, deep concern on the plight of Borno’s citizens taking refuge in parts of Niger Republic, which Zulum has visited a number of times, offering support and steadily evacuating and resettling the refugees in new houses built in Borno.
The even took place in Zindar as part of the celebrations marking Niger’s This years’ Independence day.
According to reports, Zulum’s national award, “de Grand Officer dans I`Ordre”, is only second to “Grand Croix Des Ordre National Du Niger” which is the equivalent of GCFR, and only serving Presidents in Niger normally get the award in Niger Republic.
For the very first time a Nigerien President would honour a Nigerian sitting Governor with the country’s second highest national award.
The governor was accompanied by Senators Mohammed Ali Ndume, Kashim Shettima, Chief whip of the House of Representatives, Mohammed Tahir Monguno, Speaker Borno State House of Assembly, Abdulkarim Lawan, and the Commissioner of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Engr Bukar Talba, while appreciating the gesture he said the honour would not make him relent in his devotion towards Borno people.
