The National Examinations Council (NECO) on Thursday in Minna honoured its retirees and outstanding staff for their service and dedication, while also recognising top-performing students across the country.
At the 2024 Annual Staff Productivity Award ceremony, NECO Registrar, Professor Ibrahim Wushishi, said the event was designed to celebrate excellence and encourage discipline within the Council’s workforce.
“Excellence is the heartbeat of NECO because what we do forms the bedrock of individual development and the collective progress of our nation. By rewarding diligence and achievement, we reaffirm our mission to deliver credible, timely, and fair assessments that safeguard the future of Nigeria,” Wushishi said.
The awards featured several categories, including the Outstanding Public Service Award for exemplary staff, the Lifetime Achievement Award for retirees, and the Excellence in Integrity and Ethics Award.
A total of 45 staff members received Certificates of Service in recognition of their loyalty and years of service, while 61 others were honoured as the most hardworking and dedicated staff in 2024. Fifteen individuals also received special awards.
Wushishi commended the Council’s workforce, past and present, describing them as the “unsung heroes” behind NECO’s credibility.
The chairman of the occasion, former Niger State Commissioner for Environment and Climate Change, Hon. Yakubu Kolo, applauded NECO for instituting the awards, saying it underscored the value of hard work in public service.
“Whether as staff, retirees, or students, today’s honourees show that excellence is not an accident but a choice. This culture of recognition must continue because it motivates individuals to go beyond the ordinary and strengthens the integrity of our educational system,” Kolo said.
He urged the honourees, particularly students, to view the recognition as a springboard for lifelong learning and impactful contribution.
