The Nigerian National Merit Award (NMMA) has so far conferred the Nigerian National Order of Merit Award on only 60 Nigerians from all walks of life since its inception in 1979.The Secretary of the Nigerian National Merit Award, Adamu Bawa Muazu, disclosed this recently in an interview in his office in Abuja. He said that prospective recipients of the Award were either nominated by persons or a group of persons who felt that the nominees had distinguished themselves nationally and internationally in various spheres.

The Secretary said, So far, only 60 Nigerians have distinguished themselves and have been able to pass through litmus test of the NMMA to get the NNOM Award. He said that The NNMA Governing Board has no right to nominate any person(s); the person has to offer himself.

He explained that what the NNMA normally do is to placed advertisement In the National Newspapers and on the NNMA website. Any Nigerian who feels he is entitled to the award or any group of Nigerian that feels Mr. A is entitled to the award can apply on his behalf, but with the nominator’s consent.

According to him, those nominated are usually scrutinized by a Committee of Assessors set up by the NMMA in four core areas namely: Engineering/ Technology, Science, Medicine and Humanities.

Muazu said that if there was no expert among the assessors to evaluate the suitability of an applicant from a particular discipline for the Award, the NMMA normally employed the services of an external assessor to ensure that the due process was followed.

This, he explained, was to ensure that whoever was finally recommended for the Award was not enmeshed in controversy.

“Whatever the committee recommends usually meets the national and international standards; it is based on empirical evidence. We won’t just give you the award for giving sake; your research works are usually submitted to us and we have a committee of assessors to appraise them. For the assessors not to compromise their position, their identities are never disclosed to the public.”

The Secretary called on all Nigerians who have made major and unique break-through in their various fields of endeavour to apply for the NNOM Award, stressing that the NNOM Award is distinct from the National honours Award and is a separate Order of dignity that specifically aims at recognizing, promoting and rewarding academic achievements in all fields of human endeavour.