About NNMA

The Nigerian National Merit Award (NNMA) was established by Act No. 53 of 1979 under the then Military Administration of General Olusegun Obasanjo, to confer the Nigerian National Order of Merit (NNOM) Award on deserving Nigerian citizens who have contributed outstandingly to national development in the areas of Science, Medicine, Engineering/Technology, Humanities, including Arts and Culture and other fields of human endeavour. The aforementioned legal instrument was later amended by Act No. 96 of 1992, which placed emphasis on according due recognition to outstanding intellectual and academic attainments, as well as contributions to the general development of Nigeria. The Act No. 96 of 1992 recognized the NNOM as an Order of Dignity that permits the recipient to use the acronym. The Award is usually conferred on the recipients by the President, Commander-in-Chief of Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. The NNOM Award, which is distinct from the National Honours Award, is a separate Order of Dignity that specifically aims at recognizing, promoting and rewarding academic achievements in all fields of human endeavour. It is important to note that this award is not an exclusive preserve of academics alone as being erroneously held in some quarters. On the contrary, non-academics who have distinguished themselves in their chosen fields of endeavour have also received the Award e.g. Late Hajiya (Dr.) Ladi Kwali, the world acclaimed pottery expert from Niger State. The award is usually conferred by law, by Mr. President on the first Thursday of December of each year.

Conduct the award of the Nigerian Order of Merit (NNOM) for the promotion of intellectual and academic excellence among Nigerians;
Accord proper and due recognition to outstanding intellectual and academic attainments, as well as contribution to the growth and development of the nation.

Moneys from time to time, granted to the Board by the Federal, State or Local Governments in Nigeria or by any statutory body (corporate or otherwise) set up by any such Government;
Gifts, testamentary disposition, contributions from persons or philanthropic organizations or otherwise howsoever;
Interest on investments are made by the Board;
Gifts of property (including interests in land) money or other assets upon such trusts and conditions (if any) as may be specified by the person or organization making the gifts;

The conditions attached by the person(s) or organization(s) to such gifts and the acceptance thereof are inconsistent with the objectives of the law establishing the NNMA;
Such gifts are made by any person (s) organization (s) not being citizen(s) of Nigeria or organization(s) established by pursuant to any law not in force in Nigeria.

It is important to note that donations made by any company in Nigeria to the Board, are treated under the company Income Tax Act and thus shall be tax exempted within the meaning of the said Income Tax Act.

The Board, is also empowered to invest in securities in the provisions of the Trustee Investments Act and such other securities as the Board may, from time to time approve.

STRUCTURE AND FUNCTIONS:

         To achieve its tasks, the NNMA has been structured into four organs as follows:

The Governing Board;
The Committee of Chairmen of Specialized Committees;
Four Specialized Committees of Assessors in:

Science
Engineering/Technology,
Medicine,
Humanities, Art and Culture and other fields of human endeavour.

The NNMA Secretariat.

Composition Of The NNMA Board

The Governing Board, appointed by the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria; is made up of eight members who are eminent and distinguished Nigerians including the Secretary to the Government of the Federation or his representative. The Secretary of the NNMA serves as the Secretary to the Board.