Professor Olufemi Obafemi has been conferred with the 2018 Nigerian National Order Merit (NNOM) Award by President Muhammadu Buhari at the Council Chamber of the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
Professor Olufemi Obafemi, who is the President, Nigerian Academy of Letters (NAL) and currently, the National Chairman of the Nigerian Reproduction Rights Society of Nigeria (REPRONIG), has been a Professor of English and Dramatic Literature at the University of Ilorin since October 1st, 1990.
Chairman, Governing Board of the Nigerian National Merit Award (NNMA), Professor Shekarau Yakubu Aku, said that out of about 35 nominations, only Professor Obafemi met all the criteria set out for the award – being the 76th recipient.
Professor Shekarau Yakubu said:
“This recipient has successfully scaled the hurdles and is thus worthy to be conferred with the Nigerian National Order of Merit award for 2018.”
A prolific playwright, novelist, poet, literary and theatre scholar, Professor Olufemi Obafemi has reportedly published 14 scholarly books, 16 creative books, and over 70 journal articles in national and international outlets.
Obafemi was a former Director of Research, National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), Kuru-Jos. He had, at different times, served as the Head of some professional bodies such as Association of Nigeria Authors (ANA) and the Society of Nigeria Theatre Association (SONTA).
At the yearly award ceremony that comes up every first Thursday of every December, President Buhari lauded the research and intellectual qualities of the recipient in which he has made Nigeria proud with his contributions by drawing global attention to the country.
Professor Obafemi during vote of thanks, expressed appreciation to the President and the board for selecting him as the recipient for 2018. According to him, good education policies of government are very important for students to attain top academic achievements.
The Nigerian National Order of Merit (NNOM) was instituted in 1979 to reward cerebral achievement. It was at inception known as the Nigerian National Merit Award (NNMA).
