The Director of Defence Information, DDI, Major General Benjamin Olufemi Sawyer has bagged the “Media Friendly Personality” of the year award at the 3rd Security and Emergency Management Award, SAEMA 2021.
The Award Ceremony took place on Saturday, 18 December, at the NICON Luxury Hotel Abuja.
TheFact Nigeria notes that the Awards, instituted in 2019, was organized by the Emergency Digest, a publication of the award-winning Image Merchants Promotion Limited in conjunction with the Centre for Crisis Communication, CCC, and the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre, CISLAC, to publicly acknowledge and celebrate outstanding contributions in security and emergency management with a view to creating a resilient and professional approach in tackling national challenges.
General Sawyer was conferred the honors for demonstrating exceptional leadership qualities, amiability and high sense of responsibility in discharging his duty.
“Within the short period of his tenure, he enhanced media relations activities by attending to press inquiries most times even in the face of occasional provocations. He also organized media workshops and retreats to further enhance mutual and beneficial relationships,” the citation for his award read.
General Sawyer had upon assuming duty in July this year, promised to run an open door policy to fast track information needed by journalists to carry out their reportage.
Also honoured at the event was Lt. Col. Ponfa Andrew Wuyep of the Nigerian Army, Flt. Lt. Abayomi A. Dairo of the Nigerian Airforce, Inspector Abimaje Isaiah of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC and ASP Mariam Yusuf of the Nigeria Police Force.
Others winners of individual categories of the SAEMA award include Mrs. Abimbola Animashawun of the Nigeria Customs Service, Saminu Audu of the Civilian JTF and Sifon Essien of the TVC.
