President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has publicly celebrated a significant international recognition bestowed upon a key member of his cabinet, Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister for the Economy, Wale Edun.
Presidential Praise for a Royal Honour
In a statement released on Tuesday, December 30, 2025, and conveyed by his spokesperson, Bayo Onanuga, President Tinubu expressed his delight at Edun's new appointment. The honour in question is Edun's appointment as a Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (CVO) by King Charles III of the United Kingdom.
The President described the royal appointment as "the exceptional honour" and noted that it aligns with his administration's focus on youth development and national renewal. Tinubu commended Edun's dedication and reaffirmed his government's commitment to empowering Nigerian youth as leaders for today and tomorrow.
The Basis for the Prestigious Award
The Royal Victorian Order is a special dynastic order of knighthood established in 1896 by Queen Victoria. It is awarded personally by the monarch to recognise distinguished personal service to the Sovereign or the Royal Family.
King Charles III appointed Wale Edun to the order specifically in recognition of his longstanding work with the Duke of Edinburgh's International Award. This global programme is a youth development initiative operating in over 130 countries, including Nigeria. It aims to equip young people with life skills, foster leadership qualities, and build character through a series of non-formal education challenges.
Mixed Reactions from the Nigerian Public
The news of the finance minister's royal honour sparked a range of reactions from Nigerians on social media platform X (formerly Twitter).
While some, like user Okwuchukwu Ameh, offered simple congratulations, others questioned the relevance of a British royal award for a Nigerian official tasked with managing a challenging economy. One user, @ChrisEOseme, commented sarcastically, "Wait, so we’re congratulating a finance minister with a british medal now?"
Conversely, another user saw it as a positive reflection of Tinubu's support for his team, stating, "Tinubu keep pushing his boys higher."
This award comes at a time when Minister Edun has faced criticism from some quarters over his management of the economy. Prior to this announcement, political activist Theo Agada had called for Edun's dismissal, labelling him a "terrible manager of the economy." Similar sentiments were echoed by Abu, a spokesperson for the Northern Renaissance Network (NRN).
Despite the domestic critiques, the international recognition from the British monarchy highlights Edun's extensive work in youth development through the Duke of Edinburgh's Award scheme, a role that has now been formally honoured by the Crown.
