The Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC) says it is celebrating excellence in public service delivery, reform performance, and collaboration recorded among Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) of government, as well as other stakeholders.
PEBEC Director-General, Zahrah Mustapha-Audu stated this in Abuja during the PEBEC Awards and Gala Night, explaining that “the event aims to enhance Nigeria’s business environment and recognise reform champions.”
Highlighting progress in improving the country’s business climate, Mustapha-Audu said; “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.”
He said; “The achievements we acknowledge are the tangible results of our 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.”
The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) emerged as the overall best-performing Nigerian Government Agency for 2025, with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) coming second.
Other agencies in the Top Five category included the Nigeria Customs Service, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), and the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA).
In other recognitions, the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), the Nigeria Export Processing Zones Authority (NEPZA), and the Nigeria Agricultural Quarantine Service (NAQS) received the Plaque of Cooperation Award.
Benue State clinched the Plaque of Collaboration Award, while Lagos State topped the State Business Excellence category, followed by Kaduna and Oyo states.
The Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA) won the Business Advocacy and Partnership Award, while the European Union received the Development Partnership for Business Enablement Award.
Individual honourees included the Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority, Dr. Abubakar Dantsoho, who received the Leadership in Action Award, and the Chairman of the House Committee on Commerce, Ahmed Lere, who was recognised as a Legislative Trailblazer.
The Business Enablement Award went to the Deputy Chief of Staff to the President (Office of the Vice President), Ibrahim Hadejia.
Vice President Kashim Shettima, who chairs the council, said; “the awards reflect the government’s commitment to a more efficient and competitive public service.”
He said; “The Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council has spent the last couple of years championing reforms that speak to the whole of our economic aspirations.
“These are reforms that make it easier to do business, that restore your confidence, and 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 was attended by senior government officials, state representatives, industry leaders, diplomats, and other stakeholders.