The Federal Government will confer the National Productivity Order of Merit (NPOM) Award on 25 deserving individuals and seven organizations drawn from all sectors of the economy at the 2019 National Productivity Day (NPD).
The Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige, disclosed this in Abuja at a Press Briefing ahead of the 18th National Productivity Day and Conferment of National Productivity Order of Merit (NPOM) Award.
He said that President Muhammadu Buhari had approved Thursday, 28th November, 2019 for the observance of this year’s National Productivity Day, adding that the ceremony, which would feature the conferment of the NPOM on the award winners, would take place at the NAF Conference Centre and Suites, Kado, Abuja.
The Minister stated that as part of activities lined up to mark the Day, an Award Lecture titled “Productivity for National Re-Engineering, Security and Growth” would be delivered by the Guest Speaker, Prof. Mike Obadan, former Director-General, National Centre for Educational Management and administration (NCEMA).
Ngige also stated that an exhibition of Made-in-Nigeria goods by manufacturers, Small and Medium Scale industrialists, past and present Award winners and many others would be mounted at the venue of the ceremony.
According to the Minister, the awardees are listed under three categories – Individuals, Special, and Organization. The awardees under the Individual Category are as follows: Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, Chief Richard Onwuka Egbule, FNIM; Deputy Corps Marshal Ojeme I. Ewhrudjakpor, Dr Aishatu Abubakar, Prof. Adesola Olatunde Adepoju, Hajia Vivian Idama, Barr. Georgina Ekeoma Ehuriah, MON, Prof. Hussaini Doko Ibrahim, Abubakar Mamu, Col. Hameed Ibrahim Ali (Rtd), Engr Ahmed Umar Farouk, Prof. Olanrewaju Adigun Fagbohun, SAN, Prof. Benjamin Ozumba, Chief Nabia Ahmed Saleh, Lawal Aliyu, Shuaibu Adamu, Al-Hassan Saleh Yakmut, Comrade Bobboi Kaigama, Leonard Nnamdi Ekeh, Hajia Muheeba Dankaka, John Momoh and Sam Omatseye.
He noted that the Special Category has Alhaji Aliko Dangote, Dr Oba Otudeko and Mr Tony Elumelu, while the Organizations Category include Casers Group, Vintage Farms and Products, Dufil Prima Foods Plc, Dozzy Oil and Gas, Krisoral Group, Kpakpando Foundation for People with Disabilities, and Reynold Construction Company (RCC).
According to the Minister, “the decision of Government to observe a National Productivity Day every year was predicated on the need to stimulate productivity consciousness and reward innovation, creativity and hard work among Nigerians”.
He noted that the objectives of the NPD also include “institutionalizing productivity consciousness and excellence in service among workers and organizations in both public and private sectors in Nigeria; and according workers and organizations proper and due recognition for hard work, high performance, high productivity and research achievements”.
Ngige added that the NPD is also aimed at “encouraging and fostering the spirit of competitiveness amongst workers, firms and companies in Nigeria; building and encouraging the spirit of entrepreneurship and self-reliance”, among other objectives.
The Minister therefore called on all Nigerians to participate in the programme in view of its critical role in the nation’s social and economic development, enjoining them “to come out en-masse to felicitate with the NPOM recipients and to make them feel proud of an appreciative nation”.
Speaking, the Director-General, National Productivity Centre (NPC), Dr Kashim Akor, stated that the National Productivity Day is a programme of Government put in place to ensure that the nation developed and imbibed a culture of productivity for the growth of the economy, and to also develop a spirit of competitiveness.