In what turned out as a bold appreciation of the overwhelming success of the Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Ola Olukoyede, in the fight against economic and financial crimes and other acts of corruption, The Nation Newspaper, on Sunday, December 14, 2025 named him as its Public Servant of the Year.
Olukoyede was teamed among other distinguished Nigerians, including billionaire businessman, Aliko Dangote, named in different categories of the high-profile award.
Commenting on his pedigree, Femi Macaulay, a columnist with the Newspaper, noted that “ his performance underscores his sense of duty and grasp of the demands of his role”. “ Under his leadership, the Commission exhibits a renewed sense of responsibility that is self-reforming, even self-reinventing. He sets an exemplary standard for public service and institutional governance for social progress”.
Macaulay also reeled out sterling records of the Commission in two years under his watch: “ The Commission recovered over N566.3billion, $411.5million, 71,306(GBP) and 182,887euros. It secured the final forfeiture of 1502 real estate assets, including a large estate of 753 duplexes in Abuja and Nok University, which has since been converted to a federal university”.
“ Also, the Commission secured 7503 convictions and filed 10525 cases in court from over 19, 000 petitions received and 29,000 cases investigated”.
Recalling a remarkable applause for the EFCC’s boss, Macaulay stressed that, “ President Tinubu, in a congratulatory message on his birthday, October 14, said Olukoyede has demonstrated professionalism and courage in the discharge of his duties, reinforcing the EFCC’s mission to rid the nation of economic and financial crimes. The President also acknowledged his commitment to the fight against corruption, transparency in governance, and institutional reforms within Nigeria’s anti-graft framework”.
Other distinguished Nigerians that made the Newspaper’s honour’s list include, Aliko Dangote, Person of the Year; Abdul Samad Rabiu, Business Person of the Year; Femi Otedola, Business Person of the Year; REMA, Entertainer of the Year and Victor Osimhen, Sportsperson of the Year. Others are, Wike vs Fubara, Conflict of the Year; The Mokwa Flood, Disaster of the Year; Akpabio vs Akpoti-Uduaghan, Controversy of the Year, The Super Falcons, Team of the Year, among others.
Olukoyede’s bag of awards is full of honours from diverse segments of the nation. Only last week, December 7, 2025, he was honoured with the Nigeria Excellence Awards in Public Service at the State House Conference Centre, Abuja.
