The Director General of the Department of State Services (DGSS), Alhaji Yusuf Magaji Bichi, has bagged three prestigious awards, in one month, in recognition of his outstanding performance in office.
The African Women Conference (AWC) conferred an award of Outstanding Leadedhip In The Security Sector on the Service boss during the 2022 edition of the conference which held from October 26 to 27, in The Gambia.
President Muhammadu Buhari had on October 21, 2022, honoured Bichi with the Nigeria Excellence Award in Public Service (NEAPS) alongside prominent Nigeria leaders including former President Goodluck Jonathan; Senate President Ahmad Lawan; Speaker House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila; and the service chiefs.
NEAPS recognises distinguished public service to Nigeria and to be eligible, the recipient must be a living public official or a private citizen excelling consistently in a given sphere of influence, in good character standing and must also be at the forefront of service and innovation.
The individual must show an act of public service beyond the acts of their given mandate in endowing their society positively.
Bichi, who was recently reappointed for second term in office by President Muhammadu Buhari, was on October 11, conferred with the award of the Commander of the Federal Republic (CFR), the third highest in order of national awards, by the President.
He was recognised alongside 446 other distinguished personalities in various categories.
Presenting the AWC Award to the representative of the DGSS the Minister of State for FCT, Ramatu Tijani Aliyu, said the the Service boss was being honoured in recognition of gender-friendly policies introduced to the DSS under his leadership.
The minister, who was represented by her Special Assistant and Focal Person, Social Investment Programmes, Mrs Chinwendu-Edomobi Amba, expressed hope that the award would encourage other heads of agencies to adopt and pursue gender-friendly policies.
Others recognised include: Wife of the Gambian President, Fatoumatta Bah- Barrow; Minister of Women Affairs, Nigeria, Dame Pauline Tallen; Prinicpal Partner, Asia Ahmed and Co and Founde, Mamman Marshal Foundation, Barr. Aisha El-Rufai; former Speaker, Gambia National Assembly and Founder, Family Rights Advancement and Protection, Hon. Fatoumata Jahumpa Ceesay; and Vice Chancellor, Nasarawa State University, Professor Suleiman Bala Mohammed.
Others are: M. D. Doxa Media Group, Mrs Dayo Benjamin-Laniyi;
Gambian-born Actress and Talk Show Host, Mariama Colley; former MP and Executive Director, Malawi Institute of Management, Dr Jessie Kabwila; Africell, The Gambia; Air Peace; and former Chairman, Kuje Area Council, FCT, Hon. Abdullahi Suieman Sabo.
The 6th edition of the AWC, which started in New York in 2017, had the theme: Accelerating Women’s Inclusion Through The Media, ICT and Entertainment Industries, and was attended by women from different professionals and countries.