President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday received double honours as the State of New Jersey and City of Philadelphia gave him special citations in New York.

Buhari had made a presentation at the ‘High Level Roundtable on Corruption, Migration and Bridging Africa’s Infrastructure Gap’, a programme on the margins of the 73rd United Nations General Assembly.

After his presentation, Diane Campbell, representing Sen. Turner of New Jersey, then stepped forward and read a citation of Buhari, acknowledging his military, professional and political strides.

The Nigerian leader, who was surprised and least expected the honour at such a high level meeting, stood straight and still, as the hall erupted in a round of applause.

The Chairman, Nigerian Coalition for Business Development and Investment, Dr Jude Iheoma, also read a citation of Buhari on behalf of the City of Philadelphia.

Present to witness the honour were international investors and captains of industry, Ministers, Directors-General and Dr Ibrahim Mayaki, Chief Executive Officer of the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) International.

Mrs Gloria Akobundu, head of NEPAD Nigeria; Prof. Ibrahim Gambari, former Minister of External Affairs; and top senior government officials from Nigeria were also present at the event.

Mr Femi Adesina, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, in a statement on the unexpected honours bestowed on the Nigerian leader said: “Truly, nothing succeeds like success”.