1
Public nomination — completed
The public nomination window closed on 30 September 2026 after receiving candidates under the five official pillars.
A credibility-driven review
Substance over
visibility.
The Liberty Honours is not an open-voting or popularity-based award. Selection is based on evidence, relevance, integrity and the lasting consequence of a nominee’s work.
The four stages
2
Verification and longlisting
The Secretariat checks identity, public record, supporting evidence and alignment with the nominated pillar.
3
Independent review
Qualified reviewers assess the longlist against the published standard and disclose conflicts of interest.
4
Confirmation and invitation
Five honourees are confirmed under each pillar, contacted privately and formally invited into the 2026 class.
What the review considers
A serious body of work.
The review is holistic. No single public metric, title, endorsement or social-media following determines the outcome.
Measurable impact
Evidence of results, reach, improved outcomes or meaningful change.
Structural relevance
Work that addresses systems, institutions, incentives or opportunity—not only symptoms.
Continuity
A credible body of work sustained beyond a single campaign or isolated achievement.
Integrity
Professional conduct, public credibility and alignment with the dignity of the honour.
Leadership effect
Evidence that the nominee enables others, develops people or expands agency.
Distinctive contribution
Work that adds unusual value to Nigeria’s public, economic or institutional life.
Governance commitments
Protecting the credibility of the honour.
The process is designed to minimise bias and prevent financial contribution, personal access or online popularity from influencing recognition.
- Conflict-of-interest declarations
- Confidential review and verification
- No public voting
- No payment for selection
- Clear pillar alignment
- Documented decision trail
Current stage
Research, verification and independent assessment are underway.
Nominations closed on 30 September 2026. The Secretariat is now validating submissions and preparing candidates for independent review.