The founder of the Silent Heroes Award, Mr. Sunday Odita, has called on Nigerians to complement the efforts of security agencies through patriotism, credible intelligence sharing and stronger community collaboration to effectively tackle terrorism, banditry and other security challenges facing the country.
Odita made the call at the 8th edition of the Silent Heroes Awards held in Abuja, where he stressed that collective action remains critical to addressing the nation’s growing security threats.
He noted that security agencies cannot win the fight against insecurity without the active support and cooperation of citizens, urging Nigerians to take ownership of national security through timely information sharing and responsible civic engagement.
According to him, the Silent Heroes Awards was established to recognise individuals making outstanding contributions to national development without seeking public recognition or acclaim.
He said, “Many security personnel have paid the supreme sacrifice in defence of Nigeria and deserve sustained appreciation,” adding that honouring their dedication would motivate serving officers and reassure them that their sacrifices are valued by the nation.
“The idea for the awards emerged from the need to celebrate a category of Nigerians whose contributions are profound but often go unnoticed,” he stated.
He said that “despite Nigeria’s complex and diverse nature, there remains ample opportunity to honour selfless individuals who continue to serve the nation quietly and diligently”.
The Silent Heroes Award founder expressed appreciation to individuals and organisations that contributed to the successful hosting of the 8th edition of the awards.
“Your presence, prayers, encouragement, goodwill and generous gifts contributed immensely to the success of this year’s event. We are deeply grateful for the confidence you have reposed in our vision of celebrating the unsung men and women who are quietly making Nigeria a better place,” Odita said.
He reaffirmed the organisers’ commitment to identifying and celebrating silent reformers whose contributions continue to inspire hope and drive national progress.
Among the distinguished recipients at the event were the Chief of Defence Staff, General Olufemi Oluyede, the Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS), Mr. Oluwatosin Ajayi, and several other notable Nigerians recognised for their contributions to national development.
