By Joshua Olomu
The Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC) has recognised the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) as the overall top-performing agency of the Federal Government for 2025, followed by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the announcement was made during the council’s Awards and Gala Night on Tuesday, held at the Banquet Hall, State House, Abuja.
The award celebrates exceptional public service delivery, reform excellence, and collaborative efforts toward improving Nigeria’s business environment.
Other agencies that made the list of the Top Five MDAs category include the Nigeria Customs Service, Nigerian Communication Commission(NCC) and the Nigerian Ports Authority(NPA)respectively.
Other awards categories during the night include the Plaque of Cooperation, clinched by NAFDAC, Nigerian Export Processing Zones Authority (NEPZA)and the Nigeria Agricultural Quarantine Service (NQS).
Benue clinched the Plaque of Collaboration Award, while Lagos topped the State Business Excellence Award, followed by Kaduna and Oyo States.
The Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA) got the Business Advocacy and Partnership Award, and the Development Partnership for Business Enablement Award was given to the European Union.
Some individuals who won big at the award night include Dr. Abubakar Dantsoho, Managing Director of NPA ,for Leadership in Action Award, Rep. Ahmed Lere, Chairman House Committee on Commerce, Legislative Trailblazer Award.
The Business Enablement Award was clinched by Ibrahim Hadejia, Deputy Chief of Staff to the President (Office of the Vice President).
Earlier, the Director-General of PEBEC, Mrs Zahrah Mustapha-Audu, said the event was to honour outstanding institutions and individuals and to reflect on the shared life stories of successes achieved so far.
“Today we celebrate the courage to reform, the discipline to deliver, and the belief that Nigeria can offer a world-class business environment that inspires confidence, drives investment, and creates economic opportunity for all our citizens.
“This evening is not merely an awards ceremony; it is a powerful affirmation of possibilities, honouring the champions who have moved beyond compliance, embracing excellence as the new standard for public service delivery.
“The achievements we acknowledge are the tangible result of collective resolve to make Nigeria the most attractive and predictable competitive destination for business in Africa.
“Under the unwavering leadership of His Excellency, President Bola Tinubu, and the active chairmanship of Vice President Sen. Kashim Shettima, our reform efforts have been characterised by intentionality, accountability, and the strategic deployment of data.
“We understand that to fix the operational environment for businesses, we must first fix the government’s framework,” she said.
In his speech, Shettima, Vice President of Nigeria and Chairman of PEBEC, said the council is committed to ensuring a business environment and a public service that is synonymous with excellence.
Shettima, while congratulating the recipients, said the event was a celebration of public servants who have refused to accept mediocrity in nation building.
“The Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council has spent the last couple of years championing reforms that speak to the whole of our economic aspirations.
“The reforms that make it easier to do business, that restore your best confidence, that ensure our institutions work in the spirit of national growth.
“Tonight we salute the men and women driving these institutions, when we commit to working together across MDAs, across states and across sectors, Nigeria wins,” he said.
The event brought together top government functionaries, including state government representatives, captains of industries, members of the diplomatic community and other stakeholders (NAN)
Edited by Joseph Edeh
