BENJAMIN OMOIKE
The President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR, has conferred the National Productivity Order of Merit (NPOM), Award on the various Nigerian personalities and orgnisations in recognition of his high productivity, hard work and excellence.
The recipients got the awards during the observance of the 19th National Production Day (NPD), on May 12, 2022 at the Banquet Hall, State House, Asokoro Abuja.
The National Productivity Day was instituted by the Federal Government through the Ministry of Labour and Employment to promote local production of goods and services, as well as reward indigenous entrepreneurs who are contributing to the growth of the economy.
The awards were categorised according to various scetors.
Awardees in the Special COVID-19 award category were Lagos State Health Commissioner, Prof. Akin Abayomi; Secretary to the Federal Government, Mr. Boss Mustapha and immediate past Director-General of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), Dr. Chikwe Ihekweazu.
In the “Employers of Labour” category were founder of BUA Group, Abdul Samad Rabiu; Chairman of Air Peace, Bar. Allen Onyema’ Chairman of Globacom, Chief Mike Adenuga; founder of Zenith Bank, Jim Ovia, and Chinedum Anthony Okereke.
Other individuals who were awarded include Dr. Stella Adadevoh, who received a posthumous award for her performance in the fight against the spread of the Ebola virus in the country; and Babatunde Lawal, who received a posthumous award for his “thoroughness and paying keen attention to every detail’’ during his tenure as permanent secretary in the federal civil service.
Other were Crown Flour Mills; Abdullahi Adamu, national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and director-general of the West African Health Organisation (WAHO). Stanley Okolo.
The Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr. Chris Ngige, who conveyed notification of the award to the recipients explained that the NPOM award is an award of honour and dignity instituted by the Federal Government of Nigeria to recognise hard work and excellence.
The minister noted that his recommendation was based on the report of the National Productivity Order of Merit Award Committee after a rigorous selection process.
The letter personally signed by the Minister reads in part, “The President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR has approved the conferment of the National Productivity Order of Merit (NPOM) Award on you in recognition of high productivity, hard work and excellence.
“Your recommendation was based on the report of the National Productivity Order of Merit Award Committee after a rigorous selection process”, it read.
