The Nigerian and International Winning writer, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie has declined to accept the national award bestowed to her by Nigerian President Buhari. Adichie did show up and did not accept the award. This was disclosed by Omawumi Ogbe, an associate member of Chimamanda’s communications team.
Omawumi Ogbe said in a released statement:: “Following the recent conferment of national awards by the President, there have been conflicting reports about one of the announced recipients, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. Some social media users say the award-winning writer rejected the award, while others say she accepted it.
“The author did not accept the award and, as such, did not attend the ceremony. She, however, did not want to create undue publicity around it, so her non-acceptance was conveyed privately.”
President Buhari conferred awards to 450 Nigerians and foreigners including, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo Iweala, Ms. Amina J. Mohammed , Burna Boy., Prof. Tijjani Muhammad-Bande, Nduka Obaigbena of Arise Network and many others. Burna Boy was represented by his father.
This is not the first that an award given by Federal Government of Nigeria was snubbed by the recipient. In 2004 and 2011, Late renowned Prof. Chinua Achebe turned down the award.
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