Defence Ministry Rewards Six Staff for Outstanding Customer Service
Oru Leonard
The Ministry of Defence has rewarded six members of staff for their outstanding performance and commitment to excellent customer service as part of efforts to promote professionalism, accountability and efficient service delivery.
The awards were presented on Thursday, October 8, 2026, during the closing ceremony of the 2026 Customer Service Week held at the Ministry’s headquarters, Ship House, Abuja.
Speaking at the event, the Director overseeing the Office of the Permanent Secretary, Mrs Bosede Olaniyi, reaffirmed the Ministry’s commitment to excellence, professionalism and effective service delivery in the discharge of its responsibilities.
Olaniyi commended the award recipients for their outstanding contributions, noting that excellence in service delivery remained essential to the effective functioning of the Ministry and the successful achievement of its mandate.
She explained that the recognition was designed to celebrate personnel who had demonstrated exemplary commitment, dedication and professionalism in their respective duties.
According to her, the initiative would also encourage other members of staff to embrace higher standards of performance in the overall interest of the nation.
“The recognition of outstanding staff is not only a reward for good performance but an encouragement for others to strive for higher standards of service in the overall interest of the nation,” she said.
The Director urged staff to uphold the core values of professionalism, integrity, efficiency and accountability, stressing that every employee had an important role to play in building a responsive and service-oriented Ministry.
She also called on personnel to regard customer service as a collective responsibility rather than the duty of a particular department or group of employees.
Olaniyi emphasised the need for staff to treat colleagues, stakeholders and members of the public with respect, courtesy and professionalism, noting that the quality of interactions within and outside the Ministry contributed significantly to public confidence in government institutions.
She encouraged employees to sustain the spirit of the Customer Service Week beyond the celebration by ensuring that the principles of excellent service became an integral part of their daily activities.
Earlier, the Director of Reform Coordination and Service Improvement, Mrs Ogidi-Paul I.H., fdc, said the six award recipients had distinguished themselves through their commitment, dedication and demonstration of excellent customer service in their various capacities.
She noted that the recognition was a reflection of their contributions to improving service delivery within the Ministry.
Ogidi-Paul expressed appreciation to Olaniyi for her leadership, encouragement and invaluable support towards the successful organisation of the 2026 Customer Service Week.
She observed that the achievements recorded during the week-long celebration would not have been possible without the guidance and commitment of the Director overseeing the Office of the Permanent Secretary.
She also acknowledged the support and participation of the Ministry’s management team, describing their involvement as important to the success of the programme.
The high point of the ceremony was the presentation of awards to the six recognised personnel by Olaniyi.
The recipients were Gaiya I. Reuben, Haruna Abdullahi, Corporal Akawu Blessing Uweng, Usman Shuaibu, Abubakar Idris and Isah Gunduma.
The awardees expressed appreciation to the Ministry for recognising their contributions and rewarding their commitment to service.
The ceremony was attended by directors and other members of staff of the Ministry of Defence.
The 2026 Customer Service Week celebration underscored the Ministry’s emphasis on recognising outstanding performance and encouraging a workplace culture that prioritises professionalism, responsiveness and accountability.
Through the recognition of deserving personnel, the Ministry seeks to strengthen its internal service standards and promote an institutional culture in which employees are encouraged to deliver quality service to colleagues, stakeholders and the Nigerian public.
(MOD Press)
