Icons Awards 2026: Medalinks Media Africa Honours 20 Personalities for Outstanding Performance

Medalinks Media Africa on Friday, 18 September 2026, honoured 20 personalities from Southwest Nigeria in recognition of their contributions to public service, governance, security, health care, education and community development at the 11th edition of its annual awards.

Held at Modroy Hotel & Suite Hall in Abeokuta, Ogun State, the event brought together senior officials from security agencies, as well as representatives from education, health, and other key sectors of society.

Through its flagship platform, “Medalinks News 24”, the Medalinks Media Africa combined the award programme with the unveiling of its Magazine Special Edition and a lecture on “A Day of Reflection and Solution. State of Insecurity and the Way Out”.

In his welcome address, the convener, Mr Taiwo Tiamiyu noted that the awards were designed to recognise individuals and institutions whose work and contributions have uplift communities and drive national development.

He said selection process was guided by criteria including policy impact, transparency and accountability, responsiveness to citizens, innovation in governance, and the potential for the recipient’s work or initiatives to be replicated in other settings.

According to him, “A five-member Initial Review Committee comprising professionals from different fields was responsible for screening applications across the award categories, while the guidelines provided the basis for the final decisions”.

Tiamiyu, who was trilled with the massive turnout of guests at the occasion, observed that the organisation had over the past ten years, honoured more than 100 personalities across health, business, journalism, trade unions, governance, and other key sectors, earning Medalinks News 24 widespread respect both at home and abroad.

Among the recipient of the prestigious award was the Commissioner of Police, Ogun State Command, CP Bode Ojajuni, who received the Outstanding Commissioner of Police in Southwest Nigeria Award.

Other personalities included the Rector of D.S. Adegbenro Polytechnic, Itori, Prof. Adegboke Akeem Rauf, who bagged the Ogun State Academics Leadership Award; Managing Director of Ogun State Waste Management Authority, Hon. Farouk Akintunde, who received the Impeccable Personality Award; and the Ondo State Commander of the Amotekun Security Network, Akogun Adetunji Adeleye, who received the Outstanding Grassroot Security Chief in Southwest Award.

Chairman of the Ogun State Council of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Comrade Hammed Benco Ademola, was recognised with the Ogun State Council Workers’ Welfare Award, while Dr. Timothy Adetokunbo Vaughan, Chairman of the Medical and Dental Consultants Association of Nigeria, Federal Medical Centre, Abeokuta Chapter, received the Exemplary Leadership Award.

The Outstanding Philanthropist Award went to Mr Johnson Ajibola Akindele, Chief Executive Officer, Young Agro Homes & Properties, while Comrade Yinka Folarin, National President, Committee for the Defence of Human Rights, received the Social Justice Activist Award.

Other awardees were Hon. Foluke Funmilayo Oluwadare, Societal Change Award; Prophet Segun Ajewole, Prophetic Leadership Award; Mr Festus Chinedu Nwanchor, Entrepreneurial Leadership Excellence Award; and Comrade Abdullai Babatunde Lawal, State Chairman, Police Community Relations Committee, who received the Ogun State Command Outstanding Security Mobilizer Award.

Also honoured were Comrade (Nurse) Oluwalegan NARCISSUS Oluwapomile, Outstanding NANNM Chairman in Southwest Nigeria Award; Engr. Ojo Babajide Adelaja, Most Student Friendly Lecturer Award; Dr. Fagbenro Gbenga, Medical Leadership Excellence Award; and Mrs Ganiyat Abosede Fagoyinbo, Director of Nursing Services, Federal Medical Centre, Idi-Aba, Abeokuta, who received the Outstanding Nursing Administrator Award.

Others included Ibrahim Adewale Amoo, Outstanding Finance & Accounts Expert Award; SC Badru Ibrahim, Divisional Officer, Ogun State So-Safe Corps, Alagbon Division, Outstanding Grassroot Security Investigative Award; ACC Abdullah Waheed Adewale, Area Commander, Abeokuta North Area Command, Ogun State So-Safe Corps, Outstanding Area Commander Award; and CSP Sunday Daramola Thompson, Officer-in-Charge, Violent Crime Response Unit, Ogun State Police Command, who received the Outstanding Crime Burster Award.

The 11th edition was held with the stated objective of recognising contributions to society and inspiring others to pursue initiatives that could contribute to community and national development.