LAPO splashes N170m on 693 staff for long service, best staff awards

The management of Lift Above Poverty Organisation (LAPO) on Friday showered the sum of N170,300 million on about 693 staff during its 2026 annual meritorious and long service award.

A total of 630 staff who have served for 30, 25, 20 and 10 years were honoured and rewarded by the management for their continuous services to the organisation while 63 bagged the best staff award.

The breakdown of the long service staff includes two staff for 30 years, a staff for 25 years, 24 staff for 20 years, 19 staff for 15 years and 584 staff for 10 years.

Speaking at the event in Benin City, Godwin Ehigiamusoe, founder of LAPO, said 63 exceptional staff also received the best Staff Awards.

Ehigiamusoe, represented by Faith Negbe Osazuwa-Ojo, LAPO president, said the 63 best staff were rewarded with automatic promotions for their outstanding performance.

He said many of the awardees were the pioneers whom he described as the dreamers and doers that helped build the foundation of the LAPO institution.

He said the staff did not just show up for work; they showed up for a cause, adding that their sweat and sacrifice have contributed immensely to the credibility and impact of the LAPO ecosystem.

“Let us be honest, the journey has not been easy. There have been moments of difficulty and times of trial. But through determination, discipline, and a steadfast commitment to our mission, you have remained standing. You have remained faithful.

“We gather here today not just for a ceremony, but for a celebration of people. At LAPO, we often say that our greatest asset walks in and out of these doors every evening and returns every morning.

“While we value every member of the LAPO family, today is set aside to shine a special light on those whose dedication has not just lasted, but flourished over the years.

“The work we do is unique. We exist to lift people from the lower rungs of the socio-economic ladder, to restore dignity, and to foster hope. This mission places people at the very heart of our existence.

“To serve the underserved effectively, we need more than just employees; we need torchbearers who possess uncommon commitment, unwavering diligence, and unassailable integrity.

“For over three decades, it is these very qualities that have defined the LAPO workforce. They are the reason we have grown from a vision into a leading development institution in Nigeria. They are the reason we have weathered storms and emerged stronger.

“As we celebrate today, I want to leave our awardees with a challenge: become a mentor. Your wealth of experience is a library that the next generation must read. Share your stories. Impart your wisdom. Guide the younger ones who are walking the path you helped pave. By doing so, you will ensure that the LAPO spirit endures forever,” he said.

Earlier, Lilian Ehigiamusoe, president, LAPO Staff Multipurpose Cooperative Society, opined that the awardees represented loyalty, perseverance, sacrifice, and an unwavering belief in the LAPO vision.

Ehigiamusoe said the journey of the awardees particularly those that have spent 30 years of service was a powerful reminder that lasting success is built not overnight, but through years of commitment, discipline, and shared purpose.

She added that the 63 best staff were individuals that demonstrated extraordinary performance, leadership, and dedication in their various roles, noting that their achievements embody the spirit of excellence that defines LAPO.

“To our awardees, we celebrate you not only for what you have done but for what you represent. You represent the values that sustain LAPO. You represent the spirit of commitment that inspires others. And you represent the future of an institution that continues to grow stronger with every passing year.

“As we celebrate your achievements, let us also remember that our journey is far from over. The opportunities ahead are immense, and the communities we serve continue to depend on our dedication and innovation.

“Let this event serve as both a celebration of past accomplishments and a renewed call to action, to continue working together with passion, unity, and determination as we build the next chapter of the LAPO story,” she said.

In his remarks, Ehimatie Matthew Obazee, managing director of Echos Hospital, Benin City, commended the founder of LAPO, Godwin Ehigiamusoe and staff for sustaining the vision and mission of the organisation.

Obazee, said over the years, LAPO has not only created employment for thousands of Nigerians and beyond but has also lifted several thousands from poverty with its loan packages among others.