Teni, a singer, causes controversy by declining to shake President Buhari’s hand during the national awards (Video).

Popular Nigerian musician Teni Apata recently sparked a debate. 

Teni received a variety of responses for not shaking or introducing himself to President Buhari while accepting a national honor. 

447 people received the National Honors Award from President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday at the International Conference Centre in Abuja. 

The overall number of Nigeria’s national honors awardees since 1963 is 5,341 according to the National Honours Award Investiture 2022 Programme, which states that 450 individuals received awards.

Six of the 450 recipients were given the title of Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger (GCON), 55 were given the title of Commander of the Order of the Federal Republic (CFR), 74 were given the title of Member of the Order of the Federal Republic (MFR), and 77 were given the title of Officer of the Order of the Federal Republic (OFR). There are also 65 Commanders of the Order of the Niger, 55 Members of the Order of the Niger, 110 Officers of the Order of the Niger (OON), and four recipients of the First Class Federal Republic Medal (FRM I) and Second Class Federal Republic Medal (FRM II).

Teni was the only honoree who was observed without shaking the President’s hand or extending a greeting at the award presentation.