By Joshua Tosin Ogunsakin 
Outstanding federal civil servants were celebrated in grand style at the 2025 Federal Civil Service Rewards and Recognition Awards held at the State House Banquet Hall, Abuja, with recipients going home with SUVs, houses, cash prizes, laptops, and foreign training opportunities.
The ceremony marked a major milestone in the ongoing transformation of the civil service under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration.
Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs. Didi Esther Walson-Jack, who led the event, described it as a turning point in the public service culture — one that now prioritizes excellence, punctuality, and meaningful impact over titles.
“Our civil servants matter, and tonight we are not just rewarding work — we are validating impact,” she said. “These awardees are quiet reformers who breathe life into governance every single day.”
Dr. Bahijjatu Hadiza of the Federal Ministry of Environment emerged as the star performer of the night, winning the prestigious Presidential Star Prize.
Her award included a brand-new SUV, a laptop, an international short course, a masterclass programme, a plaque, and a certificate.
Chukwudi Ekwenugo from the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy also stood out, receiving an SUV, N500,000 cash prize, a laptop, and foreign training.
Several other awardees across Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) received between N250,000 and N500,000 in cash, laptops, and in some cases, home ownership benefits, one of the most generous reward packages in the history of Nigeria’s civil service.
Walson-Jack also used the occasion to commend President Tinubu for his unwavering support for civil service reforms while issuing a firm reminder to MDAs that failed to participate or submitted ineligible nominees. She urged full compliance in future editions.
Chairman of the Federal Civil Service Commission, Professor Tunji Olaopa, praised the Head of Service as a beacon of administrative reform, saying that she has given the civil service a new face.
He further lauded the seamless collaboration between the Federal Civil Service Commission and the Office of the Head of Civil Service.
Olaopa commended President Tinubu for providing the support needed to sustain reforms and reward excellence.
Walson-Jack closed the evening with a rallying call to all civil servants: “You do not need to be in the spotlight to make an impact. Let your service speak. Do your work so well that it cannot be ignored.”
The awards night capped a landmark Civil Service Week that featured Nigeria’s maiden International Civil Service Conference, where global delegates exchanged ideas on modern governance.