DG NITT, Salih-Farah Wins Businessday Public Service Award Back To Back

The Director General/Chief Executive Officer, Nigerian Institute of Transport Technology (NITT) Dr. Bayero Salih-Farah, for the second year running emerged winner of 2021 Public Service Excellence Award by the Editorial Board of Businessday, Nigeria’s flagship business and finance Newspaper.

He had earlier won the 2020 edition of same award, which is reputed for its transparency and objectivity.

The 2021 edition of Businessday Newspaper awards holds this Thursday 21st Juky at the international conference centre Abuja. It is the 5th in the series and is aimed at recognizing ministers, Heads of government departments and agencies in Nigeria who have recorded remarkable successes in executing the mandates of their institutions.

 In a statement issued by the mangement of BusinessDay, the organisation said the DG’s nomination followed a painstaking selection process involving 100 top public servants and that he emerged on the back of his sterling performance.

“ The award committee which is made up of eminent Nigerians reviewed his performance and commitment you brought into the management and execution of the mandate of Nigerian Institute of Transport Technology and in achieving its objectives of being the leading transport and logistics operations and management centre of excellence in Africa.

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“Under his visionary leadership, you have rolled out various change initiatives that have helped revolutionalize the institute’s progrmmes and services in line with the present administration of taking the country to the next level
“Furthermore, he upgraded the information and communications technology (ICT) facilities, improved other infrastructures and enhanced learning environment including getting accreditation for all the courses run by the institution amongst other achievements, the letter stated.

Salih- Farah, joined NITT in 1994 and rose to the position of Director, Training Department. He was appointed Acting DG by the Federal Government on 6th May 2019 and confirmed as substantive Director-General on 13th January 2020. His tenure has recorded monumental changes in the physical, infrastructural and academic life of the Institute since he took over.

In the two years of his administration, the institution has won new look with the entire complex and other 12 locations across the country becoming what people termed “construction sites” which are visible and verifiable.

He has consistently but quietly carried out the responsibilities bestowed on him with diligence, commitment, dedication and professionalism, adding that his performance was outstanding. He also noted that participation level in NITT training programmes has increased.

Before becoming the DG, Dr. Bayero has garnered a lot of experiences and thus his management style is result-oriented and he is a very hands-on administrator. An accomplished scholar and astute administrator per excellence, Dr. Bayero is very humble, gentle and level-headed. He is renowned as a team player, a man of vision, a firm believer in team work, and very firm in taking decisions”, he stated and urged the DG not to relent.

Within the short period of his assumption of office as Director General and Chief Executive, Dr Bayero has virtually transformed the whole Institute, particularly in the area of infrastructural development.  He turned things around in NITT by mobilizing the staff with support from the Governing Council towards repositioning the Institute, which is in tandem with the policy objectives of the present administration of taking the country to the Next Level.

A recent visit to the NITT headquarters in Zaria and the liaison offices showed visible projects either completed or at advanced stages of completion.  Even staff and regular visitors to the Institute have been asking questions as to where the man gets the money to do all these projects. It is nothing but sheer initiative, good intentions and commitment to what he believes in”, the the royal father said.

In addition, under his leadership, there is ongoing constructing of three Driver Development and Training Centres (DDTC) in Ugheli in Delta State, Ilorin in Kwara State and Zaria in Kaduna State for training of drivers across the country to improve safety and reduce carnage on the nation’s Roads.  His leadership has also secured approval to run Mphil/PhD in Transport and Logistics in affiliation with Ahmadu Bello University Zaria and approval byb the National Board for Technical Education ( NBTE).

Also under his leadership, two new Departments , Transport Engineering and Audit Departments and Public Private Partnership as well as Collaboration and Networking Unit created as part of the expansion programme.