The Faculty of Environmental Sciences (FES), Alex Ekwueme Federal University Ndufu-Alike Ikwo (AE-FUNAI), held its 2026 distinguished service awards ceremony where distinguished staff were recognized for their exceptional dedication, professionalism, and contributions to the faculty’s growth and development.
The annual ceremony, held at the Iruka Centre, AE-FUNAI, forms part of the faculty’s strategy to promote a culture of excellence and sustain high performance across its departments and units.
Representing the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Romanus Ejiaga commended the faculty for the initiative, describing staff recognition as a strategic investment in human capital development. He conveyed the Vice-Chancellor’s goodwill and praised the faculty leadership for fostering a culture that rewards hard work and inspires service to the university and the nation.
“This award is a well-deserved tribute to staff whose contributions have shaped the identity and reputation of the Faculty of Environmental Sciences,” Prof. Ejiaga said.
The Dean of the Faculty of Environmental Sciences, Prof. Godwin Iriwheri reaffirmed the faculty’s commitment to merit-based recognition. He noted that the 2026 awards were conferred solely on staff that had shown outstanding dedication and impact on the faculty’s development.
He urged awardees to display their certificates and plaques prominently in their various offices as a reminder to maintain and surpass their current standards of excellence.
Delivering the keynote lecture at the event, Prof. Robert Onyeneke, Dean of the Faculty of Agriculture, challenged environmental scientists to uphold integrity, accountability, and transparency in service delivery. He stressed that these values are essential for repositioning environmental science as a driver of national development.
“Environmental science professionals play a critical role in shaping Nigeria’s physical, ecological, and socio-economic landscape. They must rise to the challenge with renewed purpose and patriotism,” Prof. Onyeneke stated.
He added that sustainable development requires a workforce grounded in ethical conduct and visionary leadership, urging professionals to demonstrate commitment even when unobserved. He encouraged the faculty to set a benchmark for excellence within AE-FUNAI and across Nigerian universities by engaging actively in policy, planning, and environmental governance.
“The environment is not an afterthought; it is the foundation of every development goal. Environmental scientists should see themselves as builders of the nation,” he said.
Speaking on behalf of the awardees, Dr. Samuel Echem expressed gratitude for the recognition, describing it as humbling and motivating. He thanked the faculty leadership for valuing staff dedication and urged colleagues to uphold the standards that earned them the honour.
“This award is not the end of the journey but a call to serve even more,” Dr. Echem said.
The ceremony highlights the faculty’s commitment to excellence, professionalism, and staff motivation as pillars of institutional growth.
