The Vice President, Senator Kashim Shettima, has called on public servants across Nigeria to uphold the virtues of selflessness and excellence, emphasizing the importance of daily discipline, consistent effort, and strong character.

Senator Shettima noted that lasting legacies in public service are built through resilience, dedication, and hard work, regardless of the challenges involved in strengthening institutions.

He made the remarks during a colloquium held to commemorate the 50th birthday of Hajiya Hadiza Bala Usman, Special Adviser to the President on Policy and Coordination and Head of the Central Delivery Coordination Unit (CRDC).

“If we are to raise more generations of Nigerians ready to lead with purpose, deliver with excellence, and serve with courage, we must remember this truth: intention without the willingness to pay the price of service remains wishful thinking,” the Vice President said.

Eulogizing Hajiya Bala Usman’s distinguished public service career, VP Shettima described her as a role model not only for northern Nigerian women but for the nation as a whole.

“There is no doubt that Hadiza’s place in our public service history is secure. This is so because it was not built on spectacle, nor did it rely on applause. What she has become was a product of decisions taken quietly, responsibilities carried fully, and institutions strengthened with care,” he added.

VP Shettima further noted that Hajiya Bala Usman earned her influence in Nigeria’s public service through a rare combination of gifts: grace, strengthened by grit; clarity, guided by courage, vision and excellence, continually shaping the country’s national direction.