🇳🇬 DECAN Honours General Olukolade, Samaila Uba, Serving And Retired Military Spokespersons for Defence and Security Image Management

 

Former Director of Defence Information, Major General Chris Olukolade (Rtd.), has been honoured alongside another retired military image-maker and serving military spokespersons by the Defence Correspondents Association of Nigeria (DECAN), in recognition of their contributions to defence communication and the management of security information.

Desk: Defence & Security
Date: October 12, 2026
Time: 09:00 WAT
Location: Abuja, Nigeria
Author: Nokai Origin

The awards were presented at DECAN’s Conference on National Security and Awards Ceremony in Abuja on October 12, 2026, bringing together former and serving communication officers whose work has involved explaining military operations, providing official information during security developments and engaging the media on defence matters.

Major General Olukolade, who previously served as Director of Defence Information at Defence Headquarters, received a Lifetime Achievement Award for Retired Military Image-Makers. Major General Chukwuemeka Osita Onwuamaegbu (Rtd.), a former Director of Army Public Relations, received the same category of recognition.

The awards highlighted the role of military spokespersons in communicating security developments, managing public information during operations and maintaining channels of engagement between the Armed Forces and the media.

Serving Military Spokespersons Also Recognised

DECAN’s Outstanding Military Spokespersons Awards went to Major General Samaila Mohammed Uba, Director of Defence Information at Defence Headquarters; Major General Michael Onoja, Director of Defence Media Operations; Captain Abiodun Folorunsho, Director of Naval Information; Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, Director of Public Relations and Information of the Nigerian Air Force; and Colonel Appolonia Anele, Acting Director of Army Public Relations.

Deputy Comptroller of Customs Abdullahi Maiwada, the National Public Relations Officer of the Nigeria Customs Service, was also listed among the award recipients.

Their responsibilities place them at the point where operational developments, official briefings and public inquiries meet. Their work includes providing updates, clarifying official positions and helping journalists obtain information from the institutions they cover.

Defence Communication And Information Management

The recognition of retired and serving spokespersons also brought attention to the changing demands of defence communication in an environment shaped by fast-moving information, social media and heightened public interest in security operations.

Military image-makers are expected to communicate confirmed information while protecting sensitive operational details. They must also respond to public concerns, correct misinformation and maintain professional relationships with journalists covering security institutions.

The role extends beyond issuing statements. Timely briefings, clear explanations and consistent engagement can help the public understand military activities, while careful handling of operational information remains important to personnel safety and mission effectiveness.

DECAN Recognises Broader Contributions To Security Reporting

The conference also recognised other figures involved in defence leadership, security operations and journalism. Among the listed awardees were the Chief of Defence Staff, General Olufemi Olatubosun Oluyede; Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu; Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Idi Abbas; and Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke.

The Defence Journalism Excellence Awards category included Voice of Nigeria Director-General Mallam Jibrin Baba Ndace, veteran defence editor Ms. Molly Kilete of The Sun, veteran defence correspondent Ismail Musa of NTA, and Vanguard defence editor Kingsley Omonobi.

DECAN’s 2026 conference was held under the theme, “Beyond Kinetic Warfare: Harnessing Technology and Intelligence-Led Operations for Nigeria’s National Security.”

The recognition of former and serving military spokespersons placed defence communication among the professional contributions acknowledged at the gathering, underscoring the importance of reliable official information and sustained engagement between the military and the journalists reporting on national security.

🏷️ Tags: Zig Originals, Defence & Security, General Chris Olukolade, Military Spokespersons, DECAN Awards, Defence Communication

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