The chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and Director‑General of the Department of State Services (DSS), along with the Dauda Lawal‑led Zamfara State Government, were named among the BON Awards honourees during the 6th edition of the BusinessDay Outstanding Nigerian (BON) Awards held in Lagos.
The inclusion recognised their contributions to security, governance, and national development.
The BON Awards are an annual event organised by BusinessDay, a leading Nigerian financial and economic newspaper, to recognise individuals, organisations and programmes that have demonstrated excellence and impact in their sectors.
The awards span categories including leadership, public service, business performance, innovation and contributions to national development.
At the 2026 ceremony, the organisers said the selection of honourees was based on demonstrated impact, leadership in public service, and contributions to societal progress.
The list of BON Awards honourees reflected a blend of security leadership, state governance, economic stewardship and corporate performance.
Among the BON Awards honourees, the DSS Director‑General, who also serves as the chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, was recognised for leadership in security and efforts to strengthen national stability.
The awards committee cited strategic interventions and operational improvements that enhanced intelligence and response mechanisms across the country.
Similarly, the governor of Zamfara State, Dauda Lawal, was honoured for his leadership in state governance and efforts to tackle insecurity, socio‑economic pressures and public welfare challenges in the northwest region.
The committee acknowledged progress in state‑level policies that seek to enhance security, investment and resilience.
In addition to the top public sector honourees, the list of BON Awards honourees included business executives, innovators and thought leaders recognised for their performance in corporate governance, entrepreneurship, financial inclusion, digital transformation and sustainability initiatives.
The awards ceremony brought together stakeholders from the public and private sectors, as well as civil society and international partners.
The 6th BON Awards ceremony featured keynote addresses, panel discussions and cultural performances celebrating national achievements and advocating for excellence in leadership and performance across institutions.
DSS Director‑General: Recognised for contributions to national security strategy, coordination of intelligence operations, and enhanced protective measures across Nigeria.
The honours reflected collaboration with other security agencies and institutions to improve the security environment.
Zamfara State Governor — Dauda Lawal: Acknowledged for policy actions aimed at stabilising security, increasing internally generated revenue, strengthening community engagement and attracting development support to the state.
His leadership was cited as contributing to measurable improvements in governance frameworks.
Other BON Awards honourees included senior business executives who have deepened Nigeria’s digital economy, expanded corporate social investment, and improved access to finance for underserved communities.
The recognition of prominent security and governance figures among the BON Awards honourees underscores growing emphasis on institutional performance and impact in Nigeria.
Honouring leaders from the security and sub‑national governance space reflects an expanded appreciation of contributions beyond traditional business performance, integrating public sector leadership into narratives of national development.
Industry analysts note that such recognition may encourage cross‑sector collaboration and spotlight approaches that blend security, governance, business acumen and innovative problem‑solving.
