Youth Help Desk wins 2026 Civil Service Excellence Award
The Youth Help Desk of the Federal Ministry of Youth Development has won the 2026 Civil Service Excellence Award for outstanding service delivery and its significant impact in providing responsive and citizen-centred services to Nigerian youths.
The award was presented on August 15, 2026, by the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (OHCSF) and was received on behalf of the Honourable Minister of Youth Development, Comrade Ayodele Olawande, and the Ministry by the Permanent Secretary, Dr. Maryam Ismaila Keshinro.
The Youth Help Desk was recognised for its exemplary performance in responsive, customer-focused, accountable and innovative service delivery.
Established in 2024 in line with SERVICOM standards, the Help Desk was created as a direct channel for young Nigerians to access government information, seek assistance, lodge complaints and receive timely redress.
According to the Ministry, the initiative has so far handled more than 5,000 citizen requests and resolved over 4,100 cases, underscoring the government’s efforts to make public services more accessible and responsive to the needs of young people.
Receiving the award, Dr. Keshinro expressed appreciation for the recognition, describing it as a testament to the dedication and professionalism of the Ministry’s workforce.
She said the award also demonstrated that effective policy implementation could produce tangible results when government programmes were designed around the needs and concerns of citizens.
“I am delighted to receive this award on behalf of the Honourable Minister and the Federal Ministry of Youth Development. It is a significant recognition of the dedication and commitment of our officers and the impact of the Youth Help Desk in providing responsive and citizen-centred services.”
The Permanent Secretary said the recognition would further motivate the Ministry to strengthen the Help Desk and adopt more innovative approaches to service delivery.
She added that the award was not only an honour but also a responsibility for the Ministry to do more in improving its systems and ensuring that Nigerian youths receive efficient, accessible and responsive government services.
The OHCSF commended the Youth Help Desk for “setting a benchmark for excellent performance and a legacy of transformative impact.”
The Federal Ministry of Youth Development said it would continue to strengthen the initiative as part of its commitment to improving engagement between government and Nigerian youths.
