The Defence Correspondents Association of Nigeria (DECAN) has conferred its Award of Recognition and Patron of the Association on retired Brigadier General Sani Kukasheka Usman, former Director of Army Public Relations (DAPR) and Spokesman of the Nigerian Army.
The award was presented at the DECAN Conference and Awards Ceremony held on Monday, 12 October 2026 in Abuja, an event that brought together serving and retired military officers, defence correspondents, security stakeholders and members of the diplomatic community.
General Usman was represented at the ceremony by his son, Dr. Usman Sani Usman, who received the award and was decorated on his behalf by the former Vice President of Sierra Leone, His Excellency Samuel Sam-Sumana.
The decoration by a former foreign Vice President added international colour to the ceremony and underscored the regional respect enjoyed by the Nigerian Armed Forces and its spokespersons.
According to DECAN, the award was in recognition of Usman’s outstanding contributions to military-media relations during his tenure as Army Spokesman, where he institutionalised open-door engagement with defence correspondents, reporters and editors.
The association noted that Usman fostered enduring professional relationships that bridged the gap between the military and the media at a critical period of counter-insurgency operations, and has continued to engage and mentor defence journalists even in retirement.
In his reaction after the honour, General Usman said he was deeply honoured and humbled.
In a statement, he said: “I am deeply honoured and humbled to have been recognised by the Defence Correspondents Association of Nigeria (DECAN) with an Award of Recognition and as a Patron of the Association, in appreciation of my contributions to military-media relations during my tenure as Director of Army Public Relations and Spokesperson for the Nigerian Army, particularly in fostering enduring relationships with defence correspondents, reporters and editors, as well as my continued engagement with the media even in retirement.”
He continued: “I sincerely appreciate the leadership and entire membership of DECAN for this thoughtful recognition and honour. It further strengthens my commitment to promoting professionalism, mutual understanding and constructive military-media relations in the interest of national security and the positive image of the Armed Forces of Nigeria.”
He also offered prayers for his representative: “As for my able and worthy representative, may you be honoured, amen.”
Brigadier General Sani Usman (Rtd) served as Director of Army Public Relations from 2015 to 2019, a period that coincided with intense military operations against Boko Haram in the North-East. He was widely credited with rebranding the Army’s information management, improving crisis communication and building confidence between the military and the civilian media.
Since retirement, he has remained a respected voice on security, strategic communication and civil-military relations, and a consultant to several organisations.
The 2026 DECAN Conference also featured paper presentations on national security, media professionalism and the welfare of veterans, with awards presented to individuals and institutions that have supported defence reporting in Nigeria.