Amb. Dr. Dauda Salihu Barau Honoured with Security Excellence Award, at Agenda 2063 Assembly in Abuja

By Genesis ogiri, Abuja 

Abuja, Nigeria – June 2025 | In a distinguished security and diplomacy-focused event convened at the Army Resource Centre, Asokoro, Abuja, Ambassador Dr. Dauda Salihu Barau, a respected Superintendent in the Nigeria Immigration Service, was bestowed with the Security Excellence Award by the Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution (IPCR). The award was conferred in recognition of his outstanding contribution to national security, his unwavering integrity in service, and his strategic leadership in advancing Nigeria’s internal security architecture.

The event, organized under the auspices of the African Union Agenda 2063 Ambassadorial Assembly, was themed: “Say No to Terrorism, Kidnapping, and Banditry”—a rallying call to address Africa’s most pressing security and human rights challenges through strategic foresight, institutional collaboration, and proactive policy implementation.

The gathering brought together high-ranking officers from the military, paramilitary, police, and intelligence agencies, alongside policymakers, civil society leaders, and diplomatic envoys. The strategic intent of the Assembly was to outline a continental response framework to curtail the escalation of security threats and promote peace, stability, and sustainable development in line with the Agenda 2063 aspirations.

Delivering his keynote remarks, Amb. Barau called for a coordinated national and continental approach to security management, urging for synergy across all security agencies and the political leadership:

 “The battle against terrorism, kidnapping, and banditry cannot be won in silos. We need synergy—tactical, operational, and strategic. And beyond that, we need the political will to back reform, invest in intelligence infrastructure, and address the socio-economic roots of these crises,” he emphasized.

His speech received strong commendation from delegates, many of whom echoed the urgent need to embed whole-of-government and whole-of-society approaches in tackling Africa’s multifaceted security challenges

Amb. Dr. Barau’s recognition as a recipient of the Security Excellence Award is a reflection of his distinguished career in national security, particularly within the Nigeria Immigration Service, where he has earned acclaim for his operational discipline, policy insight, and ethical leadership. Known for championing inter-agency cooperation and strategic intelligence sharing, he has become a beacon of service excellence in an era when professionalism and accountability are vital to combating transnational crime and internal insecurity.

In his response to the recognition, Amb. Barau expressed deep gratitude to the organizers and used the opportunity to spotlight an emerging threat: illegal organ harvesting.

“While we focus on terrorism and violent crime, we must also begin to incorporate the conversation around organ trafficking. It is a silent but devastating menace that exploits our most vulnerable populations. I urge this Assembly and our security institutions to prioritize this issue as part of the larger human security agenda,” he stated.

The African Union Agenda 2063 Ambassadorial Assembly emphasized that Amb. Barau’s recognition exemplifies the Aspirations 3 and 4 of Agenda 2063—“An Africa of good governance, democracy, respect for human rights, justice and the rule of law” and “A peaceful and secure Africa.” His work reflects the ideals of inclusive security architecture and responsible governance needed to build a future where Africans live free from fear and deprivation.

In a joint communiqué released at the close of the event, the Assembly stressed that tackling terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, and emerging threats like organ trafficking requires a blend of security professionalism, grassroots sensitization, and institutional resilience.

The conferment of the Security Excellence Award on Ambassador Dr. Dauda Salihu Barau stands as a strong affirmation of his unwavering dedication to national service, operational integrity, and proactive security leadership. At a time when Nigeria and the wider African continent face complex internal and transnational threats, his example reinforces the critical need for professionalism, intelligence-led operations, and coordinated inter-agency collaboration.

Amb. Barau’s call for deeper synergy among security agencies and heightened political will reflects a strategic mindset aligned with global best practices in counterterrorism and public safety. His inclusion of emerging threats, such as organ trafficking, into the national security dialogue demonstrates foresight and a commitment to holistic security reform.

As the African Union’s Agenda 2063 charts the course for a peaceful and secure continent, leaders like Amb. Barau embody the caliber of personnel needed to translate policy into protection, and strategy into stability. His dedication to ethical service is a clarion call for all uniformed officers to rise above routine and become architects of national resilience.