Honorary citizens of Niš

City of Niš, during its rich history, has awarded the title of Honorary Citizens to different meritorious individuals. This reward was presented to different people from the country and world, who, with their scientific, political or humanitarian work contributed to the development and reputation of the City of Niš. Mayor's Office, in cooperation with Historian Archive, collected information about Honorary Citizens of Niš who were rewarded with this title in the past. 

First known honorary citizen was the King of Serbia, Milan Obrenović, who liberated Niš from Turkish governance. Historian Archive does not posses the document with the exact date when King Milan's was rewarded with the title of honorary citizen, but it possesses the documents from which this information is indirectly obtained.

Sir Thomas Lipton, the King of Tea in Great Britain was also the honorary citizen of Niš City. Tea bags were his invention. The founder of Lipton Tea Company stayed in Serbia during his philanthropic mission and he visited Niš where he was presented with the title of honorary citizen of Niš as a reward and gratitude for transportation of health care workers, sanitary material and humanitarian aid for the needs of Serbian hospitals during the First World War in 1915. This information was taken from the book "Balkan Balance" by PhD Milan Dj Milojević, a royal diplomat. 

In the newer history, the tiltles of honorary citizens were awarded to the following people:

Mrs Kiriaki Panaiotidi (from Athens). During the NATO bombing of Serbia in 1999, she brings the convoy of humanitarian aid for the children and those affected by war. From then, she has been organizing delivery of humanitarian aid, food, medicines and medical equipment to the vulnerable children and Niš citizens, Clinical Center, and simultaneously with that she has been organizing summer camps for our children all over Greece. In 2000 she was rewarded with the title of Honorary Citizen of Niš.

The Ambassador of the Kingdom of Norway, H.E. Mr. Hans Ola Urstad, during his mandate in Serbia and Montenegro, from 2001 to 2005, was unselfishly helping the City of Niš and its development, and gave exceptional contribution to the development of Cooperation between the City of Niš and The Kingdom of Norway, as well as to strengthening of the relations between these two nations. During his mandate, numerous projects with Norwegian Government were realized. Some of them are: Reconstruction and rehabilitation of the Niš Airport, scholarships for the students on the final years of the Faculties, Donation for the precise equipment for the Laboratory in the Niš Police Department, Establishment of the Regional Center for Professional Development of Educators, Establishment of Business Incubator Center. For all the given above, he was awarded with the title of the Honorary Citizen of Niš in 2005.

In 2005. Niš City Assembly awarded the Consul of the Republic of Greece in Niš, Mr Dimitios Xenitellis. The title was awarded as a gratitude for everything he had done for the development of friendly relations between these two countries, delivery of humanitarian aid from Greece and improvement of economic, political, cultural, sport and all other kinds of cooperation of Niš and this part of Serbia with the partners in Greece.

Charalampos Anastasiou and Joanna Anastasiou, a couple from Katerini, Greece, are the founders and volunteers of Humanitarian organization Benjamin. From June 1999, every four months they have been coming to Niš, bringing material aid to the children who lost their fathers in wars on the territory of ex-Yugoslavia. Their unselfish help is reflected in the line of humanitarian activities that comprise summer camps for beneficiaries, English language and computer courses as well as numerous forms of individual aid. In May 2007 Niš City Assembly brought the decision about the awarding Charalampos and Joanna Anastasiou with the title of honorary citizens of Niš City.

An architect, Ligia Ramirez from Brazil, the Chief of UN Habitat Office in Serbia was rewarded with a title of honorary citizen of Niš in 2008. This award was rewarded for unselfish efforts in presenting the City of Niš and for a great expert assistance she gave in the development of middle-term strategy of Niš City Development. Thanks to her, Niš became "the World City of Hope". As well, she also helped refugees and IDPS who found their shelter in Niš.