Abuja — The Nigerian National Merit Award will be holding the first ever forum for all the distinguished laureates on the 4th and 5th of December at the auditorium of the Merit House complex, Maitama, Abuja.

The chairman of the governing board of the NNMA, Prof. Oluwafeyisola Sylvester Adegoke, said the objective of the forum is most especially to bring together, all the past laureates of the NNMA, provide opportunities for networking with government, the industry and the private sector, network with other Nigerian intellectuals, local academics and research organisations, as well as to generate ideas that can foster national development.

Prof. Adegoke said twelve papers will be presented and discussed under the main theme: "Promoting Intellectual Excellence And Innovation For National Development."

The forum, which will be declared open by the vice president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, will have notable Nigerians like Prof. (Emeritus) Umaru Sheu, Prof. Akin Babatunde Fafunwa, minister of Education, Dr. Igwe Aja-Nwachukwu, minister of Science and Technology, Chief (Mrs.) Grace Ekpwhre.

Others include, Dr. Eratus and Prof. Ifedayo O. Oladipo (NNOM), and the immediate past board chairman of the NNMA, Prof. Anya O. Anya.

Similarly, the NNMA will also confer the Nigerian National Order of Merit (NNOM) on deserving Nigerians in the area of Science, Medicine, Engineering/Technology, Humanities, including Arts, Culture and other fields of human endeavour.

The event will hold on Thursday, 6th December, 2007 at the Council Chambers, presidential villa.