DSS DG, Zamfara gov, others honoured at BON Awards

The Director-General of the Department of State Services, Mr Oluwatosin Ajayi, has been honoured with the Friend of the Media award by the Broadcasting Organisation of Nigeria.

The award was announced at the Nigeria Broadcasting Awards Night held on Wednesday in Abuja.

According to a statement made available to PidomNigeria Online on Thursday, Ajayi was among the special awardees recognised for their support for the media industry.

BON described the DSS boss “as a thoroughbred professional, who since his appointment by President Tinubu, has displayed utmost respect for the media.”

The head of the BON steering committee, Bayo Awosemo, who was also honoured for his exemplary leadership, received the award on behalf of Ajayi.

Other recipients recognised alongside Ajayi include the Governor of Zamfara State, Dr Dauda Lawal; Governor of Cross River State, Senator Bassey Otu; the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Alhaji Mohammed Idris; and a former Executive Secretary of BON, Mr Obadiah Tohomdet.

The latest recognition comes barely five months after the International Press Institute honoured Ajayi with an award for championing press freedom.

The IPI award, presented on December 2 at its annual conference in Abuja, acknowledged Ajayi’s commitment to respecting journalists and improving relations between the security agency and the media since his appointment in August 2024.

In his remarks, Lawal thanked the organisers for recognising hard work, professionalism, and impactful contributions to society.

“I believe the media has a role to play in shaping everything that we do, not just in Nigeria but all over the world,” Lawal said.

The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, who was the chief host, commended BON for conceiving and sustaining the initiative.

BON is an umbrella body representing chief executive officers of over 300 broadcast media organisations across Nigeria.