The Acting Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Dr Habiba Muda Lawal, said only 73 Nigerians were bestowed the Nigerian National Order of Merit (NNOM) since the Award (NNMA) was founded in 1979.

Speaking yesterday in Abuja at the inauguration of the nine-man governing board of the NNMA, Mrs Lawal said the high level of meticulous efforts put in place at arriving at deserving Nigerians was responsible for the few numbers recorded.

Daily Trust reports that only two recipients; Professor Sadik A. Omowunmi and Professor Tanure Ojaide won in science and humanities respectively for the 2016 edition bringing the total of awardees to 73 since 1979.

President Muhammadu Buhari in April approved the appointment of a seven-man governing board for the organisation. They were joined by two others including a Permanent Secretary Dr Amina Shamaki, representing the SGF and an acting secretary of the board, Mr Ibrahim Namadi.

The appointments which take effect from March 27, 2017 is for a period of three years.

Professor Shekarau Yakubu Aku is the Chairman of the board, Professors Shiekh Ahmed Abdullah, Muhammad Hassan, Joseph J. Andy, Adele Jinadu, Andrew Nok, and Laz E. N. Ekwueme are members.

The acting SGF charged the board to avoid being compromised during their tenure.