The organisers of the Nigeria Excellence Awards in Public Service (NEAPS) have announced the appointment of retired Supreme Court Justice Mary Ukaego Odili as Chair of the Advisory Committee for the 2025 edition of the awards.
The announcement was made in a statement signed by NEAPS Founder, Ms. Mariam Mohammed. Also named was Mr. Ako Abbah, Assistant Director in the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF), who will serve as Secretary of the committee.
Other members of the 2025 Advisory Committee include Yemi Candide-Johnson (SAN), Senior Partner at Strachan Partners; Ibrahim Hadejia, Deputy Chief of Staff to the President; Shaka Momodu, Editor at THISDAY Newspaper; Stella Din Jacob, Director of News at TVC News; Musikilu Mojeed, Editor-in-Chief at Premium Times; and Yemi Adebowale, journalist, columnist, and Chairman/CEO of Storkgate and Associates.
According to Ms. Mohammed, the committee brings together respected professionals from diverse sectors to uphold NEAPS’ core values of transparency, merit, inclusivity, and national significance. “Their role is vital in sustaining the credibility and prestige of the awards,” she said.
The awards are organised in collaboration with the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation and facilitated by The Best Strategic PR (TBS), a strategic communications and policy advisory firm.
Now in its third year, NEAPS honours individuals and institutions that exemplify outstanding performance, ethical leadership, and innovation in public service. It aims to foster accountability, highlight national development efforts, and inspire trust in governance.
The inaugural edition of NEAPS took place in October 2022 at the State House Conference Centre, Abuja, where 44 Nigerians were recognised by then-President Muhammadu Buhari. The 2024 edition, held at the same venue, honoured 49 recipients. President Bola Tinubu, represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima, commended the initiative and praised TBS for its robust performance evaluation framework.
TBS continues to play a central role in promoting Nigerian values and sustainable development through strategic partnerships across government, international NGOs, the diplomatic corps, the private sector, and civil society.
