The meaning of Tinubu's GCFR, Shettima's GCON

The President-elect, Bola Tinubu, and Vice President-elect, Kashim Shettima would be honoured with the Grand Commander of the Order of the Federal Republic and Grand Commander of Order of the Niger respectively.

The investiture is ongoing at the State House Conference Center in Abuja.

The event is part of the activities lined up for the May 29 inauguration ceremony.

After the investiture, there would be the handover of transition documents to Tinubu and Shettima.

What is the significance of both titles?

Both are national honours presented to the president and vice president respectively.

They are two classes to the national honours or orders; the FR (Federal Republic) and the the Order of the Niger (ON).

Among the FR class of honours are the:

Grand Commander of the Order of the Federal Republic (GCFR)
Commander of the Order of the Federal Republic (CFR)
Officer of the Order of the Federal Republic (OFR) and
Member of the Order of the Federal Republic (MFR)

Among the ON class of honours are the:

Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger (GCON)
Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON)
Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON) and
Member of the Order of the Niger (MON)

These awards are given to Nigerians who have contributed one way or the order to the development, growth na advancement of Nigerian.

It is further divided into a civil or military division with a thin red stripe distinguishing it.

The red stripe, it is believed translated to the blood shed as a means of paying the ultimate sacrifice for Nigeria.

While the GCFR, the highest order is reserved for the president of Nigeria and other foreign heads state, the GCON is conferred on the Vice Presidents, Senate Presidents, Speakers of the House of Representatives and Chief Justice of Nigeria Supreme Court.





FI