Nigerian journalism has scored yet another big goal as President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the conferment of the national honour of the Member of the Order of the Niger, MON, on a former two-term president of the Nigerian Guild of Editors, NGE, and communications strategist, Malam Halilu Ibrahim Dantiye.
The award is a crowning accomplishment for Dantiye, 61, for enormous contributions to national development, promotion and sustenance of democracy, as well as his over 40 years of sterling service rendered in his journalistic profession.
Minister of Special Duties and Intergovernmental Affairs, Senator George Akume, conveyed the good news to ‘Baba’ as Dantiye is fondly called, in a letter dated September 19, 2022.
“I have the honour to formally inform you that the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency, Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR, has approved the conferment of the National Honours on you, in the rank of CON, Commander of the Order of the Niger,” the letter reads in part.
The honour would be conferred on Dantire, a member of the National Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies, at a ceremony slated for Tuesday, October 11, 2022, at the International Conference Centre, Abuja.
A Fellow of the Nigerian Guild of Editors, NGE, and the Nigerian Union of Journalists, Dantiye has over the years expressed his versatility and diligence in several spheres of life, even outside his journalistic calling.
These include: the National Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies, Kuru, near Jos; Secretary of Kano State Steering Committee on Ease of Doing Business; Chairman, Technical Committee on Kano State Nigerian Erosion and Watershed Management Project; Permanent Secretary in Kano State; as well as serving as Director General, Media and Communications, to the Executive Governor of Kano State, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje and his predecessor, Senator Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso.
Only last year, President Buhari celebrated Dantiye on the occasion of his 60th birthday on April 2, 2021,praising his sagacity and unadulterated dedication to his profession, and passion for development communication which, the President noted, “impacted greatly on the dynamic media industry, regularly positioning him for more responsibilities and leadership roles.”