By Bridget Ikyado
Abuja – The National Coordinator, Open Government Partnership (OGP) Nigeria, Dr Gloria-Kudi Ahmed, has pledged to inspire and support more women to contribute to national growth and development.
Ahmed made the pledge when she was conferred with ‘Distinguished Professional Contributions to Public Service Award’ by the Institute of Corporate Administration, on Saturday in Abuja.
The award was presented during the institute’s 2022 Corporate Executive Recognition Conference.
Ahmed expressed excitement and gratitude for the recognition and testimonies, and pledged to recommit herself to the service of the nation and humanity.
The OGP coordinator said that having been inspired and empowered by other women to excel in her career, she would also continue to support more women to realise their potentials.
According to her, a woman is multifaceted, multitasking and an octopus who gets a lot done if given opportunity in any capacity.
“There was a time I almost quit and left the country, but had a second thought and had to stay and inspire other women,” she added.
Ahmed said she would particularly encourage women in Nasarawa State to acquire education, so as to prepare them for a better future.
Mr Godswill Onyekwere, Director of the institute, said Ahmed was recognised because of her passion and excellence towards administrative deliverables in various government establishments as a career civil servant.
“She served as Director Special Duties in the budget and national planning arm of the Federal Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning
“The awardee oversees the secretarial process of the National Economic Council Meetings, Joint Planning Board and National Council on Development Planning, among others,” he added.
Others who spoke described the OGP coordinator as
as principled, hardworking, innovative, humane, a mentor, philanthropist, God-fearing and a great lover of Nigeria and her people.
The Public Relations Officer of Nigeria Correctional Service (NCoS), Mr Umar Abubakar, also bagged Fellowship of the institute.
He said that the award was an additional responsibility for him to work harder to ensure the realisation of the custodial and non custodial mandate of the NCoS.
Abubakar, an Assistant Controller of Correction, dedicated the award to the Controller-General of NCoS, who entrusted him with the responsibility of running the media arm of the service.
Meanwhile, the Director of the institute said that the conference would discuss issues that boarder on changes in the economy, administration, politics and how to move Nigeria forward.
He said the inductees and awardees were professionals who have been contributing to the development of the country.
Onyekwere said that the participants would rub minds to bench mark what is happening in the developed world and how Nigeria will key into it, in spite of the current transitional politics ahead of 2023 elections.
The Director urged the awardees to be models of excellence wherever they found themselves.
“We need to reengineer, we need to re-energise and focus on the right direction for the benefit of our country,” Onyekwere said.
The event was attended by members of the institute, families and friends of the awardees, who took turn to pour encomiums on the awardees.(NAN/vitalnewsngr.com)