The Acting Secretary of the Nigerian National Merit Award (NNMA), Mrs. Mercy Matilda Musa Moroá has expressed her enthusiasm regarding a proposed partnership with the African Academy of Sciences (AAS). This was disclosed during a recent courtesy visit by a delegation from the AAS to the NNMA.
Mrs. Moroá highlighted the significance of the collaboration, emphasizing that the NNMA is a multidisciplinary organization dedicated to recognizing and rewarding intellectual, academic, and professional excellence for national development in Nigeria. She noted that the NNMA’s primary mandate is to identify and assess candidates for the Nigerian National Order of Merit (NNOM), which honours outstanding contributions to national development in fields such as Science, Medicine, Engineering/Technology, and the Humanities, including Arts and Culture.
While acknowledging the AAS as the premier academic institution in Africa, Mrs Moroá described the NNOM Award as Nigeria’s highest honour, specifically aimed at recognizing, promoting, and rewarding academic achievements and excellence. She expressed optimism about the potential for collaboration between the NNMA and AAS, particularly in recognizing and celebrating exceptional contributions to various fields.
Mrs Moroá further highlighted that since the inception of the NNMA in 1979, the prestigious NNOM Award has been conferred on 79 distinguished Nigerians, including notable laureates such as the late Prof. A.L. Mabogunje, Prof. Oluwafeyisola S. Adegoke, and Prof. Anya O. Anya. She expressed confidence in the vast areas of collaboration between the two organizations.
Speaking on behalf of the AAS Secretary General, Prof. Hilary Inyang, NNOM emphasized the importance of the visit. He extended an invitation to the NNMA to participate in the upcoming African Academy of Sciences General Assembly Conference, scheduled to take place from 8th to 11th December 2024 at Nicon Luxury Hotel, Abuja. Prof. Inyang underscored the shared values between AAS and NNMA in nurturing top talents across the continent, noting that the AAS currently boasts 600 fellows, including 62 from Nigeria, all of whom are NNOM laureates.
Prof. Inyang also revealed that the conference is expected to attract approximately 1,000 dignitaries from across Africa, including former and current African Heads of State. He urged the NNMA to play a leading role in the event and to consider co-hosting the conference with the AAS. Furthermore, he called for collaboration between the NNMA and other stakeholders to establish a framework for the African Continental Research Foundation (ACRF), highlighting Nigeria’s ongoing efforts to propose a National Research Foundation.
In his remarks, Prof. Inyang emphasized that the AAS’s scope extends beyond the sciences, encompassing social sciences, humanities, and other innovative ideas for African development.
He also called for increased government support for NNMA’s activities, particularly in the area of funding, and recommended that the Federal Government consider including members of Nigeria’s Body of Fellows in appointments to the Governing Board.
Mrs. Alheri Davo, anipr
Head of Press & Public Relations
Nigerian National Merit Award
