A public sector-focused philanthropic organisation, the Aig-Imoukhuede Foundation has presented 32 outstanding civil servants with cash prizes of N500,000 each, translating to N16 million cumulatively from the Emily Aig-Imoukhuede Memorial Endowment Fund for Public Sector Excellence.
This gesture, the foundation said, was to commemorate this year’s Civil Service week
In commemoration of the 2023 Civil Service Week, the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (OHCSF) had hosted a spectacular Gala Nite on 29th July, 2023 in Abuja, as the event brought together distinguished guests, public servants, and esteemed stakeholders from various ministries, departments, and agencies.
The foundation stressed that the 32 benefiting civil servants, who were chosen after a rigorous selection process, undertaken by the OHCSF and its partners, best exemplified the core values of the civil service, including, loyalty, accountability, meritocracy, efficiency, and professionalism.
Speaking at the event, the chairman, Aig-Imoukhuede Foundation, Mr Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, expressed his deep-rooted belief in the critical role of public servants in nation-building.
He reiterated the foundation’s mission of continuous promotion and encouragement of excellence within the public sector, recognising that the country’s progress and prosperity are intertwined with the dedication of its civil servants, stating that, the establishment of the Emily Aig-Imoukhuede Memorial Endowment Fund for Public Sector Excellence represents part of the foundation’s efforts to build a culture of meritocracy and professionalism within civil service.
By honouring exceptional public servants, the foundation aims to set a benchmark for others to emulate, thereby elevating the overall standards of public service delivery across the country, he pointed out.
This award, now in its second edition, he said, symbolises the enduring legacy of Emily Aig-Imoukhuede, whose passion for service and commitment to the betterment of society remains an inspiration to all.
In her address, the head of Civil Service, Dr Folasade Yemi-Esan extended her profound appreciation to the Aig-Imoukhuede foundation for its unwavering dedication to promoting excellence in the civil service, noting that, the collaborative efforts of the Aig-Imoukhuede foundation in driving positive change within the public sector, and the award itself, inspire a new wave of commitment to the core values that define the Civil Service.
Since its inception, the Aig-Imoukhuede Foundation, has been supporting the reform efforts of the OHCSF, providing technical assistance and funding for key reform priorities of the Nigerian Civil Service including digitalisation, the introduction of a performance management system and a culture change programme aimed at instilling the right values in the Civil Service.
Additionally, it provides capacity-building programmes for public servants, run in partnership with the Blavatnik School of Government, University of Oxford. To date ,its training programmes have reached over 400 public servants.
The foundation’s multi billion Naira commitment to building an efficient and effective public sector stems from its firm belief that strong leadership and capable public servants drive sustainable development and inclusive governance.
