A night of celebration turned into an emotional highlight as Mrs. Cecilia Joseph, a cleaner at Pertinence Group, received the Meritorious Service Award, accompanied by a cash reward of over ₦2,000,000, during the company’s end of the year party which featured a microfinance bank launch.
Mrs. Joseph, who has dedicated seven years of service to the organization, was honoured for her exceptional work ethic and unwavering commitment. Colleagues praised her, noting that “nothing ever went missing or broken under her watch,” and she diligently carried out her duties without disrupting the company’s operations.
The award initially came with a ₦1,000,000 monetary prize, but the co-founders, Wisdom Ezekiel and Sunday Olorunsheyi, PhD, who did the presentation of the award, each added ₦500,000, raising the total to ₦2,000,000.
Inspired by this generosity, guests at the event also made free-will donations, further lifting the fund. Overwhelmed by the recognition, Mrs. Joseph, visibly moved, could only say, “Thank you very much, I am so grateful,” as she received a standing ovation.
Her award was one of several presented during the evening, including accolades for team player of the year, won by Emmanuel Faroun, and other individual awards such as best-dressed male, presented to Ben Ugbana, and best-dressed female, Lovinal Arubi.
The most punctual staff award was presented to Abimbola Olaposi; the excellent Corps Member award went to Nifemi Owoseni; best Customer-Centric award to Catherine Atanlode; Sales Superstar award to, Olumide Okedara; while the Long Service award was presented to Grace Ajulo..
“Pertinence Group is founded on the principles of people empowerment and enterprise development, and everything we do revolves around the people. True to our values, we never hesitate to acknowledge the contributions of every individual, regardless of their role. Mrs. Joseph’s story is a powerful reminder that dedication and hard work never go unnoticed,” said Olorunsheyi.
The award presentation was the highlight of Pertinence Group’s year-end celebration held in Lagos on Sunday, bringing together business leaders, stakeholders, and well-wishers. Real estate mogul, Olumide Emmanuel; Television host, Tope Mark-Odigie; leadership expert, Niyi Adesanya; and values and character coach, Bosede Olusola-Obasa, were some of the guests present at the party.
The guests also witnessed the official opening of PettySave Microfinance Bank, a financial institution designed to empower individuals and small businesses with accessible financial services, according to the co-founders.
“We encourage our guests to open an account with our bank. Think of it as planting a seed in fertile ground – one that we are committed to nurturing and growing. As the seed takes root and flourishes into a tree, it will bear fruits that everyone aligned with it can enjoy. This is more than just a bank; it’s the beginning of something big,” said Ezekiel.
The party also featured the official launch of the book, “The Real Money of Lagos”, co-authored by the co-founders, which explores opportunities for wealth creation in Lagos and offers practical insights for entrepreneurs and investors.