Engr. Simbi Kesiye Wabote, Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) was on Friday conferred with the Distinguished Capacity Development Award at the Nigeria Excellence Award in Public Service (NEAPS), by President Muhammadu Buhari.

The award was bestowed on Engr. Wabote at a colourful ceremony held at the State House Conference Centre, Abuja and was for the outstanding strides he accomplished, particularly in human and infrastructural capacity development since he was appointed as the helmsman of NCDMB in 2016 and the tenure renewed in 2020.

Other recipients of awards in different categories included former President Goodluck Jonathan, President of the Senate, Dr. Ahmad Lawan, Speaker of Federal House of Representatives, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, some governors, ministers, heads of agencies and service chiefs.

Delivering his address, President Buhari said the national recognition is intended to motivate public officials to dedicate themselves and perform diligently in office. He noted that the awardees were being recognised for exhibiting transparency and accountability in the discharge of their responsibilities. “This award is in appreciation of the giant strides in the transformation of Nigeria. I thank you for your contributions and I expect this to serve as a motivation for you and others to continue doing more,” said the President.

Earlier in his speech, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr. Boss Mustapha explained that nominees were selected independently and professionally by the team of assessors constituted by the Best Strategic Media (TBS). He added that the Nigeria Excellence Award in Public Service (NEAPS) was set up to recognise distinguished public service to Nigeria, through either contributions to individuals, state or local community or the public through excellence in leadership, service and humanitarianism. Noting that recipients could range from federal, state and local governments as well as from non-profit organisations or persons in academia, he said that awardees must have made significant contributions as career public servants.

He challenged public officials to rededicate themselves to providing quality service to Nigerians irrespective of political, religious or regional differences, nothing that the challenges that the country faces were huge and should be tackled by all persons in positions of authority.

Engr. Wabote and the Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC Ltd), Mr. Mele Kolo Kyari were the only recipients from the oil and gas industry. The GMD was recognised for outstanding reform initiative.

Ayodele Johnson

Ayodelé is a Lagos-based journalist and the Content and Editorial Coordinator at Meiza. All around the megacity, I am steering diverse lifestyle magazine audiences with ingenious hacks and insights that spur fast, informed decisions in their busy lives.