Recently, the Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria (ARCN) Auditorium in Abuja was the venue for an event where the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (FMARD) recognized and honored 55 of its staff for their exceptional performance in implementing the Ministry’s policies and programs in accordance with the Federal Civil Services Strategic Implementation Plan (FCSSIP’25).
Dr. Mohammad Mahmood Abubakar, the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, spoke at the event and explained that FCSSIP’25 was focused on improving capacity building, talent management, performance management, innovation, digitalization, and value proposition for public servants.
The Minister emphasized that the current administration aims to provide dynamic and robust government policies to motivate and reposition public servants, ensuring efficient and effective delivery of services to Nigerians. Dr. Mahmood Abubakar also highlighted that the awards ceremony was not only meant to recognize and reward excellence but also to inspire all staff towards increased productivity in line with President Muhammadu Buhari’s diversification policy in the agricultural sector.
He stressed that the agricultural sector’s growth and significant contribution to the non-oil sector’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) rely heavily on the dedication of selfless, committed, innovative, and disciplined public servants responsible for formulating and implementing the Ministry’s policies and programmes.
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The Minister shared that the Ministry has developed the Green Alternative, a part of the Agriculture Promotion Policy, to reposition the agricultural sector and boost the national GDP by creating wealth, reducing poverty, and generating employment opportunities for youths and women. Dr. Abubakar also reiterated the Ministry’s commitment to capacity development, providing regular in-house workshops and external sessions to enhance staff decision-making ability and customer service standards.
The Permanent Secretary, Dr. Ernest Umakhihe, in his welcome address, explained that the program was part of the Ministry’s tradition and an annual event aimed at motivating and incentivizing staff for better performance. He also highlighted that the program aligns with the provisions of the Federal Civil Service Strategy Implementation Plan 2021-2025 (FCSSIP25).
Dr. Umakhihe announced that the Ministry had identified and selected high-performing officers across Salary Grade Levels for the year. In her Vote of Thanks, Mrs. Oluwatoyin Alade, the Director of Human Resource Management, encouraged staff to maintain their level of productivity as the introduction of the New Performance Management System would make the process more competitive. She also urged staff to sustain their efforts to enhance the Ministry’s scorecard.
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The Ministerial award recipients included Dr. Yakubu Adam, Director of Procurement, Engr. Frank Kudla, Director of Extension Services, Dr. Imeh Umoh, Director of Fisheries and Aquaculture, Mrs. Kamilalu Kida, Director of Legal Services, Mr. Abubakar Adamu, Deputy Director of Finance and Account, Mr. Ezeaja Ikemefuna, Assistant Director of Information, and Mr. Yuguda Abubakar, Principal Photographer, Information, among others.
The event included an award presentation to the staff and members of the Ministry’s Sport Club. The Permanent Secretaries of the Federal Ministry of Information and Culture, Education, Federal Capital Territory (FCT), and the National Coordinator, Servicom, among others, were in attendance.
