SGF office partners PR firm to host second edition of public service awards 

The office of the secretary to the government of the federation (SGF) in collaboration with The Best Strategic PR (TBS) will be hosting the second edition of the annual Nigeria Excellence Awards in Public Service (NEAPS).

Forty-four Nigerians were honoured in the maiden edition of the NEAPs Awards, which was held in October 2022, at the State House Conference Center, Abuja.

In a statement announcing the 2024 awards, Caroline Yovchevska, TBS communications officer, said individuals and groups in both the public and private sectors will be eligible for the award selection.

“To qualify for an award, recipients must have made significant contributions in public service,” Yovchevska said.

“Winners of the NEAPS will be those who have improved the quality of public service delivery, taken risks to achieve change, have unblemished and commendable public service record, made significant and notable contributions to a more democratic society and have helped in championing social equity.

“Nomination and shortlisting will be democratic to engender wide acceptance and boost recognition of the Awards as a benchmark for excellence in public service and social welfare delivery.”

In a letter endorsing the 2024 NEAPS Awards, the SGF office said innovations, leadership, among others, will be recognised and rewarded.

“The NEAPS, which is designed to be a grand and prestigious independent award, promises to recognize and reward innovations, change, leadership and other exceptional demonstration of selfless public service delivery, with the greatest impact in Nigeria,” the letter, signed by Maurice Mbaeri, permanent secretary (general service office), reads.

According to the statement, over 60 percent of the winners of the 2022 NEAPS Awards have continued to make progress in politics and business.

The 2022 awardees included Nyesom Wike, FCT minister; Mele Kyari, group chief executive officer (GCEO) of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited; Femi Gbajabiamila, chief of staff to the president; Abdulsamad Rabiu, chairman of BUA Group; Umaru Fintiri, Adamawa governor; and Abdullahi Sule, Nasarawa governor.