Photo caption: Director, Defence Information, General Tukur Gusau receiving Shield of the Nation Award frame on behalf of CDS Musa, OFR, from Bonaventure Phillips Melah, founder/CEO, Nigeria’s Pride Awards at Defence headquarters Abuja.

Speakers took turn to commend and praise the Chief of Defence Staff, CDS, General Christopher Musa, OFR, after he was honoured as ‘Shield of the Nation’ at the 2025 Nigeria’s Pride Awards which took place Tuesday, September 30th at Barcelona Hotel, Abuja.

The CDS was honoured alongside other individuals, companies and organisations including Governor Francis Nwifuru of Ebonyi State, Dangote Group and its Group Head of Corporate Communications, Anthony Chiejina, Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, SAN, Sir Jideani Agabaidu, DG of Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry, DG of Citizenship and Leadership Training Centre, Hon. Rinsola Abiola, veteran Nollywood personalities Tonto Dikeh, Empress Njamah, Rekiya Ibrahim Attah, Emeka Rollas, Gloria Okafor and Sandra Okunzuwa, among others.

Presenting Shield of the Nation plaque.

The Nigeria’s Pride Awards was organized by First Green White Resources (FGWR), publishers of African Leadership Scorecard Magazine and Nationwide Reports; and was chaired by Gen. Paul Boroh (Rtd), former Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta/Coordinator of Amnesty Programme while the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Alhaji Mohammed Idris was Guest Speaker with Dr. Sarah Jibrin, former Presidential Adviser on Ethics and Moral Values served as Mother of the Day.

Some awardees in a group photograph

The chairman of the occasion, Paul Boroh said Nigeria’s Pride Awards was a well-thought initiative to honour those who have served the nation well and contributed to nation-building. He commended the Chief off Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa for his efforts in rooting terrorism and other criminalities I the country and suggested that the awards be an annual event.

Minister of Information and National Orientation who was represented by the Director, Publications, Production and Documentation, Mr. Ibidapo Okunnu, praised CDS Musa for his patriotism and multi-dimensional approach in securing Nigeria. He commended the organisers of the awards for their commitment to the unity of Nigeria and for honouring citizens who have contributed t the development of the nation.

The Founder/CEO of FGWR, Bonaventure Phillips Melah, said Nigeria’s Pride Awards was founded to identify, recognize, appreciate and celebrate citizens, other nationals and corporate citizens that distinguish themselves through selfless service, patriotism, exemplary and inspiring leadership and therefore contribute positively to the development, prosperity, peace, unity and security of Nigeria as well as overall wellbeing of humanity.

He said although Nigeria is a country in search of quality leadership, many of its citizens at home and in the Diaspora are doing well in diverse fields of human endeavour and should be celebrated as according to him, a society that does not reward good people does not deserve good people in the first place.

A citation read at the event said “General Christopher Gwabin Musa, OFR, is the most senior military officer in Nigeria, Africa’s most populous nation. His patriotism and motivational leadership style have combined to boost the morale of officers and men of the Nigerian military, even as he commits himself to synergizing with other service Chiefs, the Police and related security agencies towards providing best quality service to the fatherland.

“The result of the combined approaches as well as his commitment to duty, is drastic reduction in incidents of insecurity across the country, especially North East and South East, as well as oil theft in the Niger Delta region, among many other achievements.”