NIYI OSUNDARE WINS 2014 NATIONAL MERIT AWARD

Professor Niyi Osundare

Nigerian prolific writer and multiple award winner, Professor Niyi Osundare, has been declared winner of this year’s Nigerian National Order of Merit, NNOM, Award.

Osundare was announced winner of the prestigious award yesterday by Chairman, Governing Board of the Nigerian National Merit Award, Professor Etim Moses, at a press briefing in Abuja.

He was the lone winner of the seventh series of the award instituted by the Federal Government for citizens of the country who have distinguished themselves in their respective disciplines.

“I am indeed proud as the Chairman of the Governing Board of the NNMA, on behalf of the board to present to you the lone recipient of the NNOM Award for the year 2014.

He is Professor Niyi Osundare, who through outstanding scholarship, researches and services to humanity in the field of humanities has successfully carved his name in gold in the hearts of the people of this nation and many nations of the world.

“Niyi Osundare, a poet dramatist and an essayist, has been Nigeria’s noted nature poet of English language expression, and a readily accessible serious poet, who sets out to engage the readers, and has made a most significant contribution to the Nigerian poetic English diction,” Professor Moses said.

Investiture for the winner will be performed by President Goodluck Jonathan next week Thursday at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

Moses said that regardless of prevailing socioeconomic environment in which professionals find themselves in the country, they should develop their intellects for national and global benefits.