OurNigeria News Awards 2024: Why We Named Category After Buratai – Organisers
OurNigeria News Awards 2024: Why We Named Category After Buratai – Organisers
By Matthew Eloyi
Lieutenant General Lamidi Adeosun of Nigeria and Brigadier General Mike Mukokomani of Botswana have been announced as recipients of the esteemed TY Buratai Excellence Award in Military Leadership, a prestigious category of the OurNigeria News Awards 2024, named after Nigeria’s former Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Tukur Yusuf Buratai (Rtd), in recognition of his exceptional contributions to the Nigerian Army and the fight against insecurity.
At a press conference heralding the award ceremony on Tuesday in Abuja, Dr. AK Peters, Chairman of the Editorial Board of OurNigeria News Magazine and Chairman of the 2024 OurNigeria News Award Planning Committee, elaborated on the rationale behind the award’s name.
“General TY Buratai is one officer like no other. The whole success story of the fight against insurgency and terrorism in the Northeast and Northwest began with him. He was the first Chief of Army Staff to lead from the front. Upon his appointment, he relocated the Army Headquarters from Abuja to the theatre of operations, personally leading troops and achieving remarkable results,” Dr. Peters stated.
He highlighted Buratai’s impact beyond military operations, describing his tenure as a period of comprehensive reform within the Nigerian Army.
“In terms of administration, Buratai boosted soldiers’ morale, built their capacity, and uplifted every department of the Army. He gave both ordinary soldiers and officers a pride of place. Before him, no leader had combined excellence in operations, administration, and inter-agency collaboration the way he did,” he explained.
The TY Buratai Excellence Award, regarded as one of the standout categories of the awards, is dedicated to recognising military leaders who demonstrate exemplary service, visionary leadership, and unwavering dedication to peace, security, and nation-building.
Dr. Peters emphasised that the decision to name the award after Buratai reflects his legacy of discipline, innovation, and collaboration in addressing Nigeria’s security challenges.
The 2024 OurNigeria News Award ceremony is scheduled for Thursday, January 30, 2025, at the Abuja Continental Hotel. Among the distinguished honorees for this year’s awards are Lieutenant General Lamidi Adeosun of Nigeria and Brigadier General Mike Mukokomani of Botswana, who will receive the TY Buratai Excellence Award for their remarkable contributions to military leadership and nation-building.
Dr. Peters concluded, “We named this award after Buratai because his leadership redefined the ethos of military service in Nigeria. He exemplifies what it means to serve with vision, courage, and dedication.”
Also speaking, the Editor-in-Chief of OurNigeria News Magazine, Mr Jerry Adesewo, noted that the OurNigeria News Awards have, over the years, celebrated notable personalities, including the Olowu of Owu Kuta, Oba Hakeem Oyelude Makama; the Chairman of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), General Buba Marwa (rtd); the Emir of Kano, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi and a host of others.
He added that the 2024 edition, themed “Nigeria Rising: Celebrating Excellence and Charting the Future,” marks the sixth in the series.
