In a rare and prestigious diplomatic gesture, King Charles III has appointed Nigeria’s Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr. Wale Edun, as a Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (CVO).
The announcement was made on Tuesday, 30 December 2025, as part of the King’s 2026 New Year Honours list. The Royal Victorian Order is a dynastic order of knighthood established in 1896 by Queen Victoria; it is unique because it is the personal gift of the Monarch, bestowed for “distinguished personal service” to the Crown rather than on the recommendation of the British government.
While Edun is currently steering Nigeria’s economy, the honour specifically recognizes his decades-long commitment to global youth development like the trustee role, as an International Trustee of the Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award Foundation since December 2013; and his chairing the Board of Trustees for the International Award for Young People Nigeria, which has empowered thousands of Nigerian youths through leadership and character-building programs.
The honour follows a recent high-profile visit to Nigeria by Prince Edward, the Duke of Edinburgh, in late 2025, during which the Duke championed the expansion of the youth award across the continent.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu congratulated his “pivotal” cabinet member in a statement issued by his Special Adviser, Bayo Onanuga.
“President Tinubu welcomes the exceptional honour bestowed on the Minister… and acknowledges that the recognition aligns with the priority his administration places on youth empowerment, opportunity, and national renewal.”
The Royal Victorian Order is rarely granted to non-British citizens, and Edun joins a very exclusive group of Nigerians so recognized such as Chief Emeka Anyaoku, former Commonwealth Secretary-General who received the Knight Grand Cross (GCVO) in 2000.
As an Honorary Commander (CVO), Edun holds the third-highest rank of the five-tier order. Because he is a non-UK citizen, the award is “honorary,” meaning it does not confer the title of “Sir,” but it does allow him to use the prestigious post-nominal letters CVO.
