The Aig-Imoukhuede Foundation, a philanthropic organisation dedicated to the public sector, has awarded 32 exceptional civil servants with cash prizes of N500,000 each, totaling N16 million, from the Emily Aig-Imoukhuede Memorial Endowment Fund for Public Sector Excellence. This generous gesture was made in honor of this year’s Civil Service Week.
In celebration of the 2023 Civil Service Week, the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (OHCSF) organized a grand Gala Night on July 29, 2023, in Abuja. The event brought together distinguished guests, public servants, and esteemed stakeholders from various government ministries, departments, and agencies.
The Aig-Imoukhuede Foundation highlighted that the 32 civil servants who received these awards were meticulously chosen through a rigorous selection process conducted by the OHCSF and its partners. These individuals exemplify the core values of the civil service, including loyalty, accountability, meritocracy, efficiency, and professionalism.
Mr. Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, Chairman of the Aig-Imoukhuede Foundation, emphasised the essential role that public servants play in the nation’s development. He reiterated the foundation’s mission to continuously promote and encourage excellence within the public sector, recognising that the progress and prosperity of the country are closely tied to the dedication of its civil servants.
The establishment of the Emily Aig-Imoukhuede Memorial Endowment Fund for Public Sector Excellence is part of the foundation’s broader efforts to foster a culture of meritocracy and professionalism within the civil service.
By recognising exceptional public servants, the foundation aims to set a high standard for others to follow, thereby raising the overall level of public service delivery across the country. This award, now in its second edition, symbolises the enduring legacy of Emily Aig-Imoukhuede, whose passion for service and commitment to societal betterment continues to inspire.
Dr. Folasade Yemi-Esan, the Head of the Civil Service, expressed her profound gratitude to the Aig-Imoukhuede Foundation for its unwavering dedication to promoting excellence in the civil service. She noted that the collaborative efforts of the foundation in driving positive change within the public sector, along with the award itself, inspire a renewed commitment to the core values that define the Civil Service.
Since its inception, the Aig-Imoukhuede Foundation has supported the reform efforts of the OHCSF, providing technical assistance and funding for key reform priorities within the Nigerian Civil Service. This includes digitisation, the introduction of a performance management system, and a culture change program aimed at instilling the right values within the Civil Service. Additionally, the foundation offers capacity-building programs for public servants, conducted in partnership with the Blavatnik School of Government at the University of Oxford. To date, these training programs have reached over 400 public servants.
The foundation’s significant commitment to building an efficient and effective public sector is rooted in its strong belief that strong leadership and capable public servants drive sustainable development and inclusive governance.
