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Marwa makes history, wins Champion Newspapers’  Man of the Year Award again

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• ‘I ‘ll continue to do my very best to move NDLEA to greater heights’

THOMAS IMONIKHE

The Chairman/Chief Executive of National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Brig-Gen Mohamed Buba Marwa (rtd) CON, OFR, has made history by becoming the first recipient of the prestigious Champion Newspapers’ Man of the Year back to back, 2021 and 2022.
Before now, no Nigerian has been so eminently honoured by the media organization since its establishment on October 1, 1988 just as Gen. Marwa has formally accepted the award, which will be conferred on him in May next year at the Eko Hotels and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos.
His reply was conveyed in a letter personally signed by him titled: ‘Acceptance of Champion Newspapers’ 2022 Man of the Year Award’ sent to Dr (Mrs.) Nwadiuto Iheakanwa, Group Managing Director (GMD)/Editor-in-Chief, Champion Newspapers Limited and dated November 29, 2022.
It read: “I am honoured to receive the report of my nomination for yet another important award as The Man of The Year 2022 by one of Nigeria’s oldest and prestigious media organizations, Champion Newspapers.
“Hence it is with intense pleasure that I write to convey my acceptance of the award, which I consider an excellent morale booster that will encourage me to continue doing my best as the Chairman/Chief Executive of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, especially coming back to back with a similar award given me in 2021.
“I must always convey my sincere appreciation to the Board of Editors that recommended and the Champion Newspapers Limited for the time and efforts the organization devotes to this yearly award process.
I look forward with delight to the grand ceremony of the award presentation in May 2023.
“Permit me to use this opportunity to appreciate the various support Champion Newspapers has given to NDLEA by way of stories, editorials, cartoons and opinions which help in shoring up public faith in the Agency to deliver on its mandate.
“I will of course continue to do my very best to move NDLEA to greater heights and ensure that the Agency fully fulfill its statutory mandate of curbing drug abuse and trafficking in illicit substances for as long as I remain there. Please be assured of my warmest regard”, the NDLEA boss stated.
It would be recalled that Dr. Iheakanwa had in a letter dated November 7, 2022 nominated the former Lagos State Administrator for the distinguished award following his stellar performance as head of the ant-narcotics body since assuming duty in January 2021.
 Defending the nomination, she stated that “by this latest recognition, you have thus made history as the first Nigerian to be conferred with our most prestigious honour for two consecutive years, 2021 and 2022 in the 34 years existence of our organization”.
 According to her, the award, which is a product of the painstaking selection of “our Board of Editors, is our modest way of appreciating great leaders in both public and private sectors of the economy who have made greater sacrifices in ensuring that the objectives and fundamental ideals of our nationhood are sustained.
 Continuing, the GMD noted that “on all rankings, our findings, largely corroborated by that of credible independent assessors, confirm that your selfless and remarkable service in strengthening and repositioning the NDLEA to deliver on its statutory mandate of eliminating the use of hard drugs and illicit substances in the country have been very outstanding.
 “Significantly, your innovative intelligence-driven-based strategy coupled with determination of dedicated and motivated officers since your assumption of office in January 2021, have breathed vibrancy and energy into the agency that was hitherto lacking in the outfit prior to your assumption of duty.
 “But all that has changed for the better as a result of your dynamic leadership. For instance, the anti-narcotic agency’s amazing feat in recording the single highest cocaine seizure in Nigeria’s history and the arrest of drug barons among them a foreigner in a massive operation in parts of Lagos months ago, under your able watch, has further validated the decision of our Board of Editors.
 “Besides, as a man of integrity and promise keeper, you have implemented your blueprint of according topmost priority to the welfare of personnel of NDLEA with the active support and uncommon encouragement by the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Nigerian Armed Forces, Muhammadu Buhari which has resulted in the seizures of hard drugs and the arrest of many traffickers or barons almost on daily basis.
 “Therefore, your indelible achievements under two years at the helm of affairs at the agency, which include hundreds of arrests and convictions,  seized drugs; the War Against Drug Abuse, WADA, an advocacy to sensitize Nigerians to be actively involved in the collective task of eliminating hard drugs and psychotropic substances is fast yielding fruits.
 “Indeed, the NDLEA’s renewed enlightenment on the dangers of drug abuse to the larger society especially its nexus with the current security challenges in the country, which have our total backing and had been applauded by all also, largely influenced our Board of Editors sound decision to unanimously confirm you as Champion Man of the Year 2022.
“Consequently, as watch dog of society and the Fourth Estate of the Realm, it is our statutory responsibility not only to track and document your outstanding performance but also to acknowledge your total commitment to serve fatherland diligently and tirelessly for the ultimate good of society.
 “We are, therefore, working towards a grand ceremony for the presentation of this award at the 2022 Champion Newspapers’ Annual Awards to be held in May 2023”.
Marwa is a thoroughbred retired soldier known for meritorious service and a distinguished career in the Nigeria Army. Renowned as an administrator par excellence, he is also a diplomat, author of seminal books and an accomplished entrepreneur.
He was awarded the medal distinguished service star (DSS) in the course of his military career.  Born in Kaduna on September 9, 1953, scion of a military family, his father, Buba Marwa, and grandfather, Buba Yola, had served in the Nigerian Army, and Marwa did not deviate from that path. He had his primary school education across Nigeria in Enugu, Zaria, Abeokuta and Lagos (1960-65) and went on to attend the Nigerian Military School (NMS), Zaria (1966-70).
Subsequently, he completed a regular combatant course at the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) and was commissioned into Nigerian Army Recce Corps (NARC) in June 1973.
While in the Army, General Marwa distinguished himself as an outstanding scholar in the several courses he attended in Nigeria and abroad, such as: Communication Instructors course, School of Armour Nowshera, Pakistan; Regimental Signal Officers (RSO) course, Nigerian Army Signals School, Apapa and RSO (All Arms), Military College of Telecommunication Engineering, Mhow, India amongst others.
In 2018, he was appointed Chairman of a 27-member Presidential Advisory Committee on the Elimination of Drug Abuse (PACEDA) inaugurated by President Muhammadu Buhari. PACEDA was saddled with the task of critically examining the drug abuse problem in Nigeria, which was thrice the global average, and making recommendations as to how to effectively and urgently rid the nation of the scourge in a sustainable manner.
His numerous  national awards and honours include Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON)2022; Excellence in Drug Law Enforcement by the Nigeria Excellence in Public Service Awards organized by the Presidency and Officer of the Order of the Federal Republic (OFR)
Marwa was appointed Chairman and Chief Executive of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, on January 15, 2021.Saddled with the task of revamping the country’s anti-narcotics agency and leading a potent and efficient campaign to curb the abuse and trafficking of illicit substances in Nigeria, Marwa hit the ground running.
He executed a major reform of NDLEA, leading to expansion of the Agency and a radical shift to intelligence-based operations. He began his days in office with the launch of Offensive Action, a ramp up  drug supply reduction action that translates to relentless tracking, arrest and conviction of drug traffickers.
In 22 months, NDLEA recorded unprecedented results: 23, 907 arrests (including 29 drug barons)  3, 434 convictions 5.5 million kilograms of drugs seized. He also launched one of the biggest advocacy campaigns in Nigeria, War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) and got governments and corporate organisations committed to building more treatment and rehabilitation centres.
On June 30, 2022, he successfully launched a drug addiction call centre with a 24/7 helpline : 080010203040 that connects callers with counsellors and mental health professionals. Similarly, the Agency’s drug demand reduction effort under him has been hailed as revolutionary as over 16,114 drug users were counselled and rehabilitated in 22 months.
His success at turning around the fortune of NDLEA in a short period to become an efficient Drug Law Enforcement organisation has earned him several awards from the Nigerian media including Excellence in Public Service (BusinessDay Newspaper) 2021; Man of the Year (Champion Newspapers)2021; Government Agency of the Year (Leadership Newspaper) and Public Servant of the Year (Daily Asset Newspaper) amongst others.

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