By James Sani
The Head of the Civil Service of Kogi State, Hajiya Falilat Yusuf Musa, Esq., has charged recipients of the 2026 Civil Service Week awards to regard their recognition as a call to greater responsibility, stressing that excellence comes with higher expectations.
Hajiya Musa gave the charge in Lokoja on Wednesday at the Recognition and Award Night organised to climax activities marking the 2026 Kogi State Civil Service Week, with the theme: “Digital Transformation: A Panacea for Better Civil Service Delivery.”
The colourful ceremony was attended by members of the Kogi State Executive Council, the Chief Judge of the state, permanent secretaries, directors and other senior civil servants.
In her welcome address, the Head of Service said the award night was dedicated to celebrating the workforce and honouring officers whose dedication, professionalism and commitment had distinguished them in the course of their service to the state.
She noted that the civil service was ultimately about people, explaining that behind every policy implemented, file processed, record maintained and citizen attended to, there was a civil servant whose contribution made such services possible.
According to her, many of these efforts are carried out quietly and away from public attention, but collectively, they contribute significantly to the growth and development of the civil service.
Quoting the saying, “Great things are done by a series of small things brought together,” Hajiya Musa said the contributions of individual officers, regardless of their positions, remained essential to the effectiveness of government.
While congratulating the award recipients, she reminded them that their recognition was not merely a celebration of past achievements but also a call to greater commitment.
“An award should never mark the end of an achievement. It should inspire an even greater commitment to the values and standards that earned it,” she said.
The Head of Service also acknowledged officers who were not among the award recipients, assuring them that their contributions to the development of the state remained valuable.
She observed that many civil servants quietly solve problems, mentor colleagues, attend to citizens and keep government institutions functioning without expecting public recognition.
Hajiya Musa said such contributions, though often unnoticed, remained an important part of the success story of the Kogi State Civil Service.
Speaking on the theme of the celebration, she noted that technology could only transform the civil service to the extent that the people using it were prepared to embrace learning and adaptation.
She therefore urged civil servants to acquire new skills, embrace innovation, collaborate with colleagues and continuously improve themselves in order to meet the demands of modern public administration.
The Head of Service challenged officers to look beyond the celebration and reflect on what more they could contribute to the service, what they could do better, whom they could assist and the difference their individual responsibilities could make in the lives of citizens.
Hajiya Musa also expressed appreciation to the Kogi State Governor, Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo, for his continued support for the civil service, particularly in the areas of workers’ welfare, professional development, career progression and recognition.
She said the administration’s support had provided a strong foundation for reforms and other initiatives aimed at strengthening the state civil service.
She emphasised that the award night was not simply about receiving honours but about celebrating the values behind the recognition, stressing that dedication, integrity and commitment to service remained critical to effective public administration.
Hajiya Falilat Yusuf Musa congratulated the award recipients once again and expressed confidence that their recognition would inspire them to do more while encouraging other officers to pursue excellence in their respective areas of responsibility.
She also thanked the entire workforce for their dedication and continued service to Kogi State.
Earlier in the week, activities marking the 2026 Civil Service Week included a novelty football match, a special Friday programme, a Sunday service and a lecture series, among other engagements.
James Sani
Information Officer, Kogi State Head of Service