The Nigerian University Pension Management Company (NUPEMCO) celebrated the 2025 Customer Service Week with a series of impactful events across Nigerian universities, aimed at deepening pension awareness, promoting client engagement, and celebrating service excellence.
The week commenced with an opening ceremony and workshop held at Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, themed “A Critical Analysis of the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS) and Its Impact on the Nigerian Worker.” The event drew over 300 participants, including academics, non-academics, pensioners, and university administrators. Professor Kamal Bello from the National Open University delivered the keynote address which provided a comprehensive review of the CPS and its implications for Nigerian workers. A panel discussion followed, where experts and practitioners further examined the scheme’s successes and challenges, offering perspectives on how to strengthen pension operations within the university system.
The week-long celebration concluded at the University of Lagos, where Professor Mukhtar Halliru from Bayero University Kano delivered the keynote address during the closing workshop.
One of the major highlights of the event was the announcement of the winners of the NUPEMCO National Essay Competition, open to students across all Nigerian universities, themed “Securing the Future: Why Pensions Matter for Every Nigerian Worker.”
According to Dr. Austen Sado, Team Lead of the Essay Competition Assessors, the competition received over 800 submissions, out of which 340 essays advanced to the final stage after rigorous screening based on the published guidelines. Six winners emerged, representing the six geopolitical zones of the country.
The top three winners were Torsen Saameer Kasmir (University of Jos, North Central), Odo Chidiebere Getrude (University of Nigeria Nsukka, South – East), and Amina Ali Bello (University of Maiduguri, North – East). The 4th to 6th positions were awarded to Mohammed Sani Musa (Abdullahi Fodio University of Science and Technology, North – West), Ita Mary-Kate Ikorr (University of Calabar, South South), and Israel Eze (University of Ibadan, South – West).
The winners received both cash and technology prizes — ₦500,000 and a tablet for the 1st prize, ₦350,000 and a tablet for the 2nd prize, and ₦200,000 and a tablet for the 3rd prize, with cash consolation prizes for the 4th to 6th winners.
NUPEMCO partnered with Huawei Technologies for the essay competition. A representative of Huawei, Mr. Olayemi Joseph, delivered a presentation highlighting Huawei’s educational initiatives and commitment to youth development.
As part of the collaboration, Huawei also provided Mobile Access Points to the universities of the top three winners, further supporting digital inclusion and access to learning resources.
Through these activities, NUPEMCO reaffirmed its commitment to enhancing pension literacy, promoting social responsibility, and fostering closer relationships with stakeholders within the Nigerian university system, while also recognizing the vital role of technology in advancing education and service delivery.
