By Mohammed Mohammed
The Business Day newspaper has recognised the outstanding performance of the Executive Vice Chairman/Chief Executive of the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure(NASENI), Prof. Mohammed Haruna.
The EVC, according to Mr. Segun Ayeoyenikan, was among over 100 Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) of Government assessed by a special panel set up by the newspaper.
The excellence in public service awards is an annual recognition event that celebrates functionaries occupying strategic positions in the federal administration, who in the performance of their responsibilities, embody the best values of responsible policy formulation, operational delivery of excellence, and broad stakeholder.
The awards are open to federal MDAs, the statement added.
The 2022 edition of the prestigious excellence awards-giving ceremony, which is 4th in the series, had 2021 activities of the MDAs in focus with the judges considering the respective remarkable successes achieved in fulfilment of the institutions mandates.
According to Ayeoyenikan, the panel also considered the individual institution’s means employed to deliver the mandate such as stakeholder coalition-building and sustainability considerations.
According to Business Day panel’s assessment in year 2021, NASENI under Haruna’s leadership recorded impeccable achievements in areas of inventions, innovations and products development through multi-sector interventions.
The verdict of the judges was that the EVC distinguished himself as an administrator per excellence through the various innovations introduced to NASENI.
Because of the leadership by Haruna, NASENI rose from an obscure agency in the Federal Ministry of Science and Technology to an agency that has contributed immensely to national development.
The Business Day also affirmed that due to the activities of its leader, NASENI has contributed to the development of local content in the critical areas of education, agriculture, water and health, aviation and transport sectors of the economy.
Notable also amongst several achievements of the EVC/CE also was the research and fabrication in 2019 of the equipment(disinfectant sprayers) used in the fight against COVID-19 pandemic, the initiation of the 1st Made-in-Nigeria helicopter, E-voting Solution, Smart Prepaid Energy Metre(SPEM) and many more.
Haruna received the excellence in public service award among other winners like the Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, Managing Director/CEO, National Inland Waterways Authority(NIWA),Dr.George N.Moghalu, Managing Director, North East Development Commission(NEDC), Mohammed Alkali, Chairman/Chief Executive National Drug Law Enforcement Agency(NDLEA) Rtd. Brig.Gen.Buba Marwa, Federal Commissioner National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons(IDPs) Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim.
Others include: Executive Director,Rural Electricfication Funds(REF), Dr. Sanusi Mohammed Ohiare, Commissioner for Insurance, National Insurance Commission(NAICOM) Mr.Sunday Oludare Thomas and The Permanent Secretary, State House, Presidential Villa, Abuja, Mr.Tijani Idris Umar.
SIGNED: Mr. Olusegun Ayeoyenikan
Deputy Director, Information
NASENI.