The Special Adviser to President Muhammadu Buhari on Media and Public Affairs, Femi Adeshina and spokespersons for the Nigerian Army and other security agencies have been bestowed with security and emergency awards, SAEMA.
Speaking at the event, Yushau Shuaib explained that SAEMA has so much become a household name among security agencies, stakeholders and experts.
The Awards were categorized into three: Security and Emergency Awards, Special Recognition and Spokespersons.
He said: “We received 145 entries this year out of which we had to work round the clock to come up with two finalists for each of the categories.
“Similarly, the SCA which made its debut just last year received 112 entries this year.
“This shows that it has also been accepted as an authoritative and credible platform to grade the best-performing individuals and organizations in effective and strategic communication.
“Let me however at this point make it known that all the finalists are thoroughly deserving of not only the nomination but also the awards.
“It was therefore a lot of work, via a transparent process, before our team of unbiased experts and professionals could select the eventual winners who will go home with the award plaques,” he noted.
The awardees include Lt. Colonel Ishaya Aliyu of the Nigerian Army for Gallantry, ACP Daniel Amah for Security Officer of the Year, and Rabi Nuhu of Kebbi State Command of Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) as Law Enforcement Officer of the Year.
Others are Commodore Malami Haruna of the Nigerian Navy as Military Officer of the Year. The crisis Management award was conferred on Air Commodore Edward Gabkwet of the Nigerian Air Force.
Moreover, the Community Service Award went to Nigerian Air Force, The cybercrime Prevention Award was conferred by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) while Defence Intelligence Agency got the Intelligence Safety of the Year Award.
The Special Adviser to President Muhammadu Buhari, Mr Femi Adesina got a recognition award.
Other organizations that won awards include NAFDAC, ICPC NIPR, CBN, NITDA, NIMC, DSS and many others.
In his remarks, Mr Femi Adesina who was also the the chairman of the occasion averred that the SAEMA award is good and worthy to be associated with.
PRNigeria is my go-to on insurgency and banditry reports. It is one news medium which many people do not doubt its reportage on security issues,” said the presidential spokesman.
Adesina, while speaking further, lamented that majority of Nigerians prefer negative reports about setbacks suffered by military and security agencies against terrorists, bandits and other criminals.
According to him, the Nigerian Military is doing a lot but their efforts have been under-reported.
Adesina also said that the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations, NIPR has been doing well and relates with security agencies.
He said: “You that spread the good news about the success story of our troops become the butt of their jokes and their enemy”.
On his part, the president of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations, NIPR, Malam Mukhtar Sirajo appreciated IMPR for the initiative and tasked stakeholders with communication on the need to live up to expectations as the 2023 general election draws nearer.
