President Bola Tinubu will early next month confer the ‘2023 Integrity and Public Servant of the Year’ Award to the director-general of National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS), Professor Abubakar Olanrewaju Sulaiman.
This is even as the awardee has dedicated the Award to the leadership and staff of the National Assembly, their counterparts in NILDS, and the media.
Presentation of the Award, as contained in a letter signed by Dr Mohammed Ibrahim, would be held at the State House Conference Centre in Abuja.
Dr Ibrahim is the National Coordinator of of the Award-giving organisations, which include the Public Service Institute (PSI), Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPP) and Nigerian Television Authority (NTA).
The NILDS DG, as stated in the Award notification letter, titled; “Nomination as a Public Servant of the Year (Shehu Shagari Gold Medal)”, secured the highest number of votes after an extensive three-month consultation and rigorous voting process conducted by a panel of 51 members from the PSI Technical Advisory Committee, representing five strategic public institutions in Nigeria.
Dr Ibrahim in the letter added that, “The Award presentation has received full endorsement from the Presidency and technical support from the Public Service Institutes (PSI), Nigerian Institute of Public Relations, and Nigerian Television Authority (NTA).”
The letter further explained that the former Minister of National Planning has been recognised for his exceptional contributions to Nigeria’s democratic institutions, a recognition validated by esteemed national and international organisations.
“This year’s edition of the award will coincide with the Nigerian Regulators Conference & Retreat, where President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is expected to present plaques and medals to deserving recipients.
“The Award is in recognition of Professor Sulaiman’s transformational leadership style and remarkable accomplishments over the years and in particular, in NILDS, within the last five years,” Dr Ibrahim added.
Reacting to his selection for the Award at the NILDS headquarters in Abuja on Tuesday, Professor Sulaiman said it was a pleasant surprise to him even as he dedicated the honour to the leadership and staff of the National Assembly, NILDS workers and the media.
“I never knew that credible public institutions totalling 51 were observant of my contribution to national development in NILDS .
“I’m elated by the Award and see it as a call to do more. I dedicate it to the leadership and members of the National Assembly, management and staff of NILDS and of course the media for the usual coverage and reportage of our activities geared towards deepening democratic governance in Nigeria,” Prof. Sulaiman stated.
