In a move to motivate and appreciate its employees for their hard work and dedication, the Arc. Sonny Echono-led Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) has recognised and rewarded high-achieving members of staff.
At the ceremony, which was recently held at the Fund’s Headquarters, 19 staff members received awards for their exceptional performance during the 2024 service year, in acknowledgment of their outstanding contributions to the Fund’s mission.
Additionally, the intervention agency honoured the loyalty and commitment of 27 staff members who have served the organisation for many years, presenting them with long-service awards.
This gesture demonstrated the Fund’s appreciation and rewards for dedication to duty and preservation of its long-standing values.
Speaking during its 2024 Long Service/Staff of the Year Award, Executive Secretary of the Fund, Echono, emphasised the importance of recognising and rewarding staff members who distinguish themselves through hard work and dedication to service.
He noted that staff appreciation initiatives, including long service awards, are crucial elements in motivating the workforce, boosting morale and fostering a positive work environment.
Echono highlighted that acknowledging employees for their contributions and commitment to the organisation not only expresses gratitude but also encourages them to continue delivering exceptional results.
He added that by recognising and rewarding outstanding staff members, the agency seeks to promote a culture of excellence, teamwork and dedication among its workforce.
Echono expressed gratitude to members of staff who had worked tirelessly within the year, stating that their dedication to duty has helped in making TETFund’s impact felt “across the nooks and corners of Nigeria, including state-owned tertiary institutions.”
“So, I want you to seize this opportunity to rededicate yourselves to the service of the Fund, to understand the true meaning of service,” he advised.
He urged members of staff of the agency who were recognised to take the award as an “additional tonic to put in more efforts.”
Echono added: “And even for those who are not lucky today, I told you last year that today might be your turn, perhaps next year, or it might be the following year. And who knows, maybe by the time it’s your turn, it is going to be a bigger prize or a bigger appreciation.
“And for us as a body, I believe we should safeguard the achievements we have made. As I told you earlier about organisational culture, the moment you have been recognised as a leading agency of government, you must work hard to continually sustain that level of performance.
“And there are so many agencies looking at us, rating agencies in various categories and the first thing I saw this morning was one newspaper y acknowledging that we are the most improved public agency in the country.”
Speaking on staff welfare, Echono announced to the excited staff that the TETFund Board of Trustees has approved the increase of their salaries, which has been stagnant since 2011.
“And they (the Board) also endorsed that we should actually pay your arrears this year,” he added.
He further stressed that the award ceremony served a dual purpose – to encourage staff members and also to challenge them to consistently deliver their best performance.
Echono, therefore, pointed out that by recognising their hard work and dedication, the award is aimed at inspiring staff to strive for excellence in their roles.
On his part, the Chairman, TETFund Board of Trustees, Rt. Hon. Aminu Bello Masari, used the opportunity to express his gratitude to the Executive Secretary and the entire staff for their tireless efforts, which he said have made his job as Chairman significantly easier.
Masari acknowledged their commitment to service, highlighting the positive impact it has had on the organisation as a whole.
“Well, let me also join him in appreciating the entire staff of TETFund. When I was coming here as chairman of the Fund, I heard so many stories. You know, as usual, it was like a dark room.
“If you go inside, people will tell you, you will meet snakes, lions, tigers, all sorts of stories. But for those who have not come inside, it is part of human nature,” he said.
Highpoint of the event was the Excellent Performance Awards, which recognised outstanding staff members.
The recipients included five staff in the Silver category, seven in the Bronze category and six top performers from TETFund’s zonal offices.
The climax of achievement was the Gold Award, which was won by Ms. Sanusi Gumbi, earning her the “Staff of the Year” prize.
Additionally, 27 staff members received Long Service Awards, recognising their dedication and commitment to the Fund.
The awards were categorised based on their years of service, with 10 staff members receiving the Bronze Award, 18 receiving the Silver Award and nine receiving the prestigious Gold Award.
