Buhari to confer National Honour on Anthony Joshua
Nigerian-born British boxer, Anthony Joshua is among the latest recipients of the national honours to be presented by President Muhammadu Buhari at the State House, Abuja on October 11.
Joshua, whose ancestral roots is traced to Sagamu in Ogun State will be awarded the Officer of the Federal Republic(OFR) as one of the 64 Nigerians in that category of awards and among the full list of the 437 individuals for the National honours.
Recall that President Muhammadu Buhari had earlier conferred different national honours on athletes that won medals at the World Athletics Championships in the USA and the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, UK.
World record holder and Champion Tobi Amusan, silver medallist in the long jump event at the World Championships Ese Brume, Olympics wrestling silver medallist Blessing Oborodudu and gold medallist in the Commonwealth Games powerlifting event and World Record holder Folashade Oluwafemiayo were awarded the Officer of the Order of the Niger, OON.
Others who all got the Member of the Order Niger (MON)national honour were Odunayo Adekuroye, Taiwo Liadi, Ikechukwu Obichukwu, Bose Omolayo, Favour Ofili, Nasiru Sule, Ifechukwude Ikpeoyi, Ebikewenimo Welson, Hannah Rueben and Elizabeth Oshoba all
Joshua, a former World Heavyweight Champion was in 2018 awarded the Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, (OBE) by the then Prince Charles after retaining his WBA, IBF and WBO titles.
He was also previously awarded a Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, MBE back in 2013 for his success at the London 2012 Olympics where he won gold in the heavyweight boxing.