The Defence Correspondents Association of Nigeria (DECAN) has honoured the Director-General of Voice of Nigeria (VON), Mallam Jibril Baba Ndace, for his leadership and contributions to national security, strategic communication and nation-building.
Ndace received the award at DECAN’s 3rd Annual Conference and Award Ceremony on Monday, October 12, at the Nigerian Army Conference and Suites, Asokoro, Abuja.
The recognition acknowledged his service to Nigeria as an embedded defence correspondent and in his current capacity as Director-General of the country’s international broadcasting organisation.
The award cited Ndace’s “outstanding leadership, strategic coordination and dedicated service in strengthening and managing Nigeria’s national security,” highlighting his contributions to security communication and national development.
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The recognition also underscored the relationship between credible journalism, strategic communication and national security, particularly as Nigeria faces complex security challenges requiring effective information management, public awareness and cooperation among relevant institutions.
As Director-General of Voice of Nigeria, Ndace leads an organisation mandated to project Nigeria’s perspectives, policies, culture and national interests to international audiences.
His recognition by DECAN highlights the role of responsible media engagement in communicating national security issues and promoting public understanding of the country’s efforts to address security challenges.
The award ceremony formed part of a conference themed “Beyond Kinetic Warfare: Harnessing Technology and Intelligence-Led Operations for Nigeria’s National Security.”
The event brought together military leaders, defence officials and journalists to examine strategies for strengthening Nigeria’s security architecture through technological innovation, intelligence gathering and inter-agency cooperation.
DECAN’s recognition of Ndace highlighted the contribution of media professionals to national security through professional reporting, public enlightenment and the dissemination of credible information on security developments.
His experience as an embedded defence correspondent also reflects his background in specialised defence reporting, which requires an understanding of military operations, security challenges and the balance between public information and operational sensitivity.
The conference also honoured senior military officers for their contributions to national security and counter-terrorism operations.
The Chief of Defence Staff, General Olufemi Oluyede, was recognised for his military leadership, coordination among the three services of the Armed Forces of Nigeria and efforts to degrade the operational capabilities of terrorist groups.
Former Chief of Army Staff and former Nigerian Ambassador to the Republic of Benin, Lieutenant General Tukur Yusuf Buratai (retd.), received the Outstanding Leadership Award for his military service and contributions to counter-terrorism operations.
The Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, was honoured for his leadership and reforms aimed at strengthening the Nigerian Army, including efforts to expand its operational capacity and recruit additional personnel.
The Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Idi Abbas, was recognised for his contributions to maritime security, including efforts to combat piracy, improve security in the Gulf of Guinea and tackle crude oil theft.
The Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke, also received recognition for the Nigerian Air Force’s contributions to counter-terrorism operations, aerial surveillance and precision air operations.
Beyond the awards, participants called for increased investment in advanced surveillance systems, artificial intelligence, geospatial intelligence and real-time information sharing to strengthen threat detection and improve operational decision-making.
The Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa (retd.), who was honoured as Grand Patron of DECAN, urged journalists to balance their responsibility to hold public institutions accountable with the need to protect sensitive operational information.
He cautioned against publishing unverified reports or information that could compromise military operations or endanger security personnel.
The conference concluded with a renewed emphasis on cooperation between the military and the media to advance national security objectives through responsible reporting, effective communication and intelligence-led operations.
