…sponsors cash prizes for majority of award categories at 2025 Civil Service Recognition Ceremony
The Aig-Imoukhuede Foundation was on Saturday honoured with a prestigious award as a longstanding partner of the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (OHCSF), in recognition of its unwavering support for public sector transformation and civil service excellence in Nigeria.
By Chimezie Godfrey
The Aig-Imoukhuede Foundation was on Saturday honoured with a prestigious award as a longstanding partner of the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (OHCSF), in recognition of its unwavering support for public sector transformation and civil service excellence in Nigeria.
The award was presented during the 2025 Federal Civil Service Rewards and Recognition Awards Ceremony held at the State House Banquet Hall, Abuja, marking the climax of this year’s Civil Service Week.
The Foundation, known for its targeted investments in governance reform and public service leadership, also sponsored cash prizes for 16 of the 21 awards presented at the ceremony — a gesture widely praised as a testament to its enduring commitment to public sector capacity building.
In her address, the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs. Didi Esther Walson-Jack, OON, mni, paid glowing tribute to the Foundation, describing its support as “a model of strategic partnership that yields transformational results.”
“The Aig-Imoukhuede Foundation has not just contributed resources, it has invested in the future of governance in Nigeria. By backing 16 award categories with cash prizes and consistently supporting the civil service reform agenda, the Foundation is helping us turn vision into value,” she said.
The event, themed around transformation and reward for excellence, celebrated outstanding civil servants across multiple categories, including the Presidential Distinguished Civil Service Award and the Head of Service’s EPIC Award. Winners emerged from key Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) such as the Federal Ministries of Environment, Solid Minerals Development, Marine and Blue Economy, and Agriculture and Food Security.
Welcoming guests to the ceremony, Mrs. Patience Oyekunle, Permanent Secretary, Service Welfare Office and Chair of the Service-Wide Awards Selection Committee (SWASCo), emphasized the significance of partnerships in driving institutional change.
“Without the consistent support of development partners like the Aig-Imoukhuede Foundation, events like this and the larger reform agenda would face severe limitations. Tonight, we not only celebrate civil servants but also the organisations that believe in our mission,” she noted.
The Foundation’s honour comes against the backdrop of a historic Civil Service Week, which featured the maiden International Civil Service Conference in Abuja, attracting global delegates and reinforcing Nigeria’s ambition to reposition its bureaucracy for 21st-century demands.
Mrs. Walson-Jack further charged civil servants to emulate the values embodied by both the awardees and partners like the Aig-Imoukhuede Foundation.
“Transformation doesn’t just happen at the top. It happens every day, in every desk, by those who are committed to showing up, staying consistent, and pushing boundaries. Let this award to the Foundation remind us all of the power of strategic collaboration in delivering change,” she said.
As music and celebration followed the formal programme, the spirit of appreciation lingered — not only for public servants who keep the system running, but also for institutional allies like the Aig-Imoukhuede Foundation, whose support continues to shape the future of Nigeria’s governance landscape.