By Gabriel Ameh
The Aig Imoukhuede Foundation has honoured outstanding Nigerian civil servants for their contributions to public service delivery, innovation and institutional reform as part of activities marking the 2026 Civil Service Week in Abuja.
The recognition was presented under the Emily Aig Imoukhuede Memorial Endowment Fund, which marked its fifth anniversary this year.
Established in 2022 in memory of the late Pastor Emily Aig Imoukhuede, the Endowment Fund celebrates public servants who demonstrate excellence, integrity, professionalism and a strong commitment to improving the lives of citizens.
The 2026 awards were presented under two categories: the Presidential Civil Service Merit Award and the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation EPIC Award.
The awards recognise civil servants whose work demonstrates professional excellence, accountability, ethical leadership, innovation and commitment to citizen-centred public service.
Among the award recipients was Anthony Okechukwu Ogwo, an Assistant Chief Education Officer with the Federal Ministry of Education and an alumnus of the Aig Imoukhuede Public Leaders Programme (PLP) Cohort 5.
Speaking at the awards event, Chioma Njoku, Director of Programmes at the Aig Imoukhuede Foundation, said recognising excellence among public servants was important to strengthening public institutions and improving governance outcomes.
Njoku said public servants play a critical role in shaping the quality of governance and delivering services that directly affect citizens.
She added that the Emily Aig Imoukhuede Memorial Endowment Fund was established to celebrate individuals whose commitment to excellence, integrity and service could inspire others across the public sector.
According to the Foundation, the Endowment Fund has, since its inception, awarded more than ₦60 million to civil servants across over 50 Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) in recognition of outstanding service and contributions to public sector excellence.
Abumoye recognised for education and robotics innovation
One of the recipients of the Presidential Civil Service Merit Award was Abumoye Ayo Emmanuel, a Senior Education Officer and Robotics Coach at Queen’s College, Lagos.
Although trained in English and Literary Studies, Abumoye has distinguished himself through his work in STEAM education, robotics and girl-child empowerment.
Under his leadership, the Queen’s College Robotics Team has represented Nigeria at international competitions, including the FIRST LEGO League Competition in Australia in 2023, while emerging African champions at the Rwanda Submerged Robotics Competition in 2025.
The team has also qualified for global competitions in Houston and Canada in 2026.
Beyond robotics competitions, Abumoye has led innovation projects including the AuroDam Hydro Electric Power Project, which received recognition from the Nigerian Academy of Engineering, and Aurocleaner, a functional sweeping robot prototype that attracted industry recognition and was exhibited at the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
The Foundation also highlighted his contribution to remote learning during the COVID-19 pandemic, infrastructure improvements and mentorship programmes designed to encourage more girls to pursue science, technology, engineering and mathematics.
Ogwo recognised for digital transformation
Ogwo, one of the recipients of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation EPIC Award, was recognised for his contribution to digital transformation, institutional reform and improved service delivery at the Federal Ministry of Education.
Working in the Ministry’s Reforms Coordination and Service Improvement Department, Ogwo has contributed to the automation of service processes, development of policy and service documents, and establishment of the Federal Ministry of Education Call Centre.
As part of his participation in the Aig Imoukhuede Public Leaders Programme, he developed a capstone project proposing a digital Requisition and General Services Management Portal.
The proposed platform would integrate General Services, Procurement and SERVICOM functions to enable real-time tracking, improve accountability, reduce delays and support faster decision-making.
The Foundation said Ogwo’s work demonstrates how public servants can use technology and institutional reform to improve government services.
Ogoche recognised for public sector reform
Another EPIC Award recipient, Ochoche Emmanuel Peter, is an Assistant Director at the Ministry of Regional Development with more than 18 years of experience in the Federal Civil Service.
His areas of work include performance management, public sector reform and results-based governance.
He has contributed to the development and implementation of federal civil service reform frameworks, including work with the FCSSIP 2020 Secretariat and the development and rollout of FCSSIP 2025.
According to the Foundation, Ogoche has also worked with senior government officials and development partners to strengthen accountability systems, reform monitoring and digital governance within the public service.
His recognition reflects his long-term contribution to improving Nigeria’s public sector performance and institutional effectiveness.
The Aig Imoukhuede Foundation said the Endowment Fund remains part of its broader efforts to develop high-performing public sector leaders and institutions capable of delivering better outcomes for citizens.
Founded by Aigboje and Ofovwe Aig Imoukhuede, the Foundation focuses on strengthening public service leadership and supporting reforms through financing, strategic advisory services and capacity-building programmes.
The Foundation said it would continue to support initiatives that promote professionalism, recognise excellence and contribute to the continuous improvement of Nigeria’s public service.
