Federal government has given out the sum of N7.8million to civil servants who emerged as winners of the Federal Civil Service Innovation Competition.
The head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Dr Folasade Yemi-Esan, made this known in Abuja at the Award Presentation Ceremony of the fourth edition of the Federal Civil Service Innovation Competition organised for officers across the Federal Civil Service.
Yemi-Esan announced that the star prize winner won N3 million, while the first runner-up received N1.75 million and the second runner–up got N1million, and 10 other innovators went home with N200,000 each as consolation prizes.
The head of civil service of the federation who underscored the need for innovation in the public service, said it is the only way to keep up with the pace of global change.
Speaking on the essence of the innovation competition among civil servants, she said, “Innovation is about identifying problems, stirring up creativity and engaging in divergent thinking to derive solutions to improve the quality of life.
“These among other allied objectives have informed the hosting of the Federal Civil Service Innovation Competition. As you are aware, the competition sets out to provide a platform for Civil Servants to identify problems in the Service and proffer innovative solutions.
“By investing and promoting a culture and ecosystem for innovation to thrive, the Public Service can retain and attract the best talents in a competitive labour market,” she said.