Abuja | August 15, 2026

Dr Claris Ujam, also known as Claris Nwaejuaafo Ujam, has emerged as the overall winner of the 2026 Presidential Distinguished Civil Service Career Award, earning a brand-new Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV) for her outstanding record of service to Nigeria.

The award was presented at the 2026 Federal Civil Service Rewards and Recognition Awards, held on Saturday, August 15, 2026, at the State House Banquet Hall, Presidential Villa, Abuja.

Dr Ujam, a Deputy Director in the Federal Ministry of Education, was honoured for her exceptional career, professionalism and contributions to education administration, planning and policy development.

Over 30 Years of Dedicated Public Service

With more than three decades of experience in Nigeria's education sector, Dr Ujam has built a career distinguished by commitment to public service and national development.

Her professional contributions have reportedly included education planning, policy implementation, administration and initiatives aimed at strengthening Nigeria's education system.

She was also recognised for her role in facilitating education grants and ICT equipment worth more than $4 million from the Government of Japan, supporting Nigeria's education sector.

Highest Individual Honour

The Presidential Distinguished Civil Service Career Award, presented under the auspices of the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (OHCSF), recognises exceptional performance, dedication and significant career contributions within Nigeria's public service.

Dr Ujam's emergence as the overall winner places her among the outstanding career civil servants recognised under the 2026 Federal Civil Service Rewards and Recognition programme.

The Federal Ministry of Education also recorded the highest number of awards at the ceremony, highlighting the contributions of its personnel to public administration and national development.

Civil Servants Celebrated as 'Ambassadors of Excellence'

Speaking at the ceremony, the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs Didi Walson-Jack, described the award recipients as "Ambassadors of Excellence."

She encouraged the beneficiaries to sustain the principles of professionalism, integrity, innovation and dedication to duty, while continuing to contribute to Nigeria's development.

The recognition programme is designed not only to celebrate exceptional civil servants but also to encourage a culture of excellence and improved performance across the public service.

Dr Ujam's Journey of Excellence

Reacting to the honour, Dr Ujam expressed appreciation for the recognition and reaffirmed her commitment to excellence, integrity and dedicated service to Nigeria.

Her achievement highlights the often-unseen contribution of career civil servants whose technical expertise, institutional knowledge and years of service help sustain public institutions.

For Nigeria's education sector, her recognition comes at a significant time, as the country continues to pursue reforms involving improved educational infrastructure, digital transformation, effective policy implementation and stronger institutional capacity.

A Celebration of Service

Dr Ujam's story demonstrates that public service can be a career of impact when professionalism is combined with commitment and a genuine sense of responsibility.

Her recognition is therefore more than an individual career milestone. It is also a celebration of the thousands of public servants who work behind the scenes to keep government institutions functioning and national development programmes moving.

The award sends a simple but powerful message: excellence in public service matters, and dedicated service to the nation deserves recognition.

TILEMA congratulates Dr Claris Ujam on this remarkable achievement and celebrates her more than three decades of dedicated service to Nigeria.