The Yaba College of Technology has paid out ₦11.85m to 157 members of staff in recognition of excellence in service delivery, with two employees taking home ₦1m each as the overall best staff at the second edition of the Annual Distinguished Service Lecture and Awards.

The ceremony, held at the institution's multipurpose hall, produced two overall best staff winners at N1m each, 10 category winners across schools and units at ₦250,000 each, and 147 departmental awardees at ₦50,000 each.

Mrs Okanlawon Mutiat of the Rectory unit was named overall best non teaching staff, while Dr Ogunyemi O. I. of the School of Engineering emerged as best teaching staff. The 10 overall best staff in schools and units were Dr Olujoke Asekere of the School of Liberal Studies, Dr Olayemi Wasiu of the School of Agricultural Technology, Dr Olaniyi Oluseyi of the School of Environmental Studies, Dr Ogundipe Olubunmi of the School of Science, and Dr Ogunyemi O. I. of the School of Engineering. Others were Mrs Okanlawon Mutiat of the Rectory unit, Idowu Ibrahim of the Library unit, Moses Jumbo Margaret of the Registry unit, Aluko Salaudeen of Works and Services, and Adebisi Abosede of the Bursary unit.

Rector Dr Ibraheem Abdul described the awards as a deliberate strategy to motivate staff and sustain institutional standards. "We honour our dedicated staff who have distinguished themselves in their respective fields through commitment, effectiveness and efficient impact on institutional performance and image, professionalism and outstanding service delivery," Abdul noted.

Lifetime Achievement Awards were conferred on Lagos State Governance Advisory Council Chairman Tajudeen Olusi, pioneer college Rector Majekodunmi Okufi, and retired Lagos State Chief Judge Ishola Olorunnimbe, for their contributions to education, governance, leadership, and national development.

"Their outstanding contributions embody excellence, resilience, integrity, and lasting impact. By celebrating these distinguished personalities, we are not only recognising their remarkable efforts but also setting a high standard for others to emulate," Abdul added.

Former Lagos Governor Raji Fashola, represented by ex Lagos State Polytechnic Rector Dr Oluremi Olaleye, delivered a guest lecture titled "Institutional Reform and Entrenching the Culture of Excellence in Public Service," urging institutions to maintain accountability systems and transparency mechanisms to guarantee excellence and check corruption.

Fashola identified resistance to change, capacity deficit, corruption, and discontinuity in political leadership as persistent obstacles to institutional reform.

Governing Council Chairman Prof Funso Afolabi, represented by council member Ebenezer Akinbolade, stressed that reforms were necessary given the rapid socioeconomic transformation and rising public expectations. "Institutional reform is not merely about policy adjustments or administrative restructuring. It is about a fundamental rethinking of values, accountability frameworks and service delivery mechanisms," Afolabi stated.