By CHIMA NWAFO

In what looks like a vote of confidence in the Nigerian Police Force and exact opposite of the spirit of the #EndSARS protest, former Inspector-General of Police, MD Abubakar; AIG Zone 2, Ahmed Iliyasu; Lagos State Police Commissioner, Hakeem Olusegun Odumosu, and his Imo State counterpart, Mr. Isaac Olutayo Akinmoyede, were among 10 police officers honoured at the award.

At the event, Chairman, Ikeja zone of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Monday Onyekachi Ubani, officiated as both Chairman and award recipient as 'Champion of the Voiceless.'

The 2020 Award-Dinner of the National Association of Online Security News Publishers (NAOSNP), which held Thursday, December 17 in Alausa-Ikeja, Lagos, equally honoured the Comptroller of Immigration Service, Usman Musa Abdullahi; General Manager of Lagos State Traffic Management Agency (LASTMA), Engr Olajide Oduwoye, a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Transport and Logistics; Bravo Zone 26 Deputy Head of Operation, Mr. Awotola Victor Olantude, and an officer, Prince Moruf Ashade.

The elegant and vibrant Vice Chair, Ikorodu Local Government, Princess Folashade Olabanji-Oba, received her award excitedly with a prediction that “in the next 12 years, Nigeria would be a wonderful place to be,” which sounds patriotic but given the prevailing socio-economic scenario, is like a score against the run of play.

Other recipients included the Chief Security Officer of Fidelity Bank, Mr. Peter Okolo, who emerged 'Corporate Security Personality of the Year,' an offer he appreciated, noting that he was also recently named the president of a global corporate security association which cuts across industries.

While some on the long list of awardees were absent – others present included: Queen Mother Chief Mrs Amina Temitope Ajayi, whose commitment and constant advocacy on Nigerian Diaspora issues earned her the moniker, 'Mama Diaspora'; University of Nigeria/Unilag-trained Educationist-turned Realtor, Vivian Emmanuel; Chairman, Ikeja Local Government, Engr Mojeed Balogun; Chairman, Agboyin-Ketu Local Council Development Authority, Mayor Dele Osinowo; National president, Police Community Relations Committee (PCRC); Community Security expert/Managing Director of Badinson Security Services Ltd, Mr Matthew Ibadin; Alhaji Lukman Garu, CEO Garu Technologies, Ikeja; Leading supplier of Bouncers, Esquire Securities, and Evergreen Protective Services.

The president of NAOSPN, Mr. Samson Oki, who disclosed that the event was the association’s inaugural award-dinner, noted that it works in cooperation with all the national security agencies and corporate security organizations with a view to promoting security and checkmating the spread of fake news in the social media space. He also conveyed reasons why some could not be physically present, including the national training programme currently holding in Enugu to prepare Police Public Relations Officers (PPROs), for the eventual take-off of the newly formed SWAT.

Given the inability of the Lagos PPRO to come for the award, he sent ASP Chinwe to represent him. This engagement turned out to make the pretty lady the star officer of the event as she was also to collect the award of the other Lagos-based police officers, including CP Odumosu, who could not attend.

Ms Theresa Moses, the Public Relations impresario, expressed the association’s unquantifiable appreciation to awardees who sacrificed time to physically honour their invitation, sponsors, all attendees and such honorees as ex-IGP Abubakar, Imo State CP, and Comptroller of Immigration, among others who were unavoidably absent.

•PHOTO: A cross section of award recipients at the 2020 Award-Dinner of the National Association of Online Security News Publishers (NAOSNP) held Thursday, December 17, 2020 in Alausa-Ikeja, Lagos

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