Lagos State Governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, and Senior Special Assistant to the President on Regional Development Programmes, Dr Mariam Masha, have called on the state's public servants to adopt technology, innovation, and problem-solving approaches. They made the call at the graduation ceremony of the second cohort of the public sector accelerator programme, organised by the Ministry of Establishments and Training. The programme aims to equip public officers with the skills needed to transform the Lagos State Public Service.
Governor Sanwo-Olu emphasized that the programme is designed to build a critical mass of highly skilled, motivated, and innovative public officers. He noted that the state government has continued to invest in workforce development, recognizing that human capital is critical to sustainable development. Sanwo-Olu cited his early years as a commissioner, where he witnessed efforts to transform the public service through capacity development and improved performance.
Sanwo-Olu urged the 100 participants to see their graduation as the beginning of greater responsibility, charging them to return to their ministries, departments, and agencies with renewed commitment to improving processes and delivering better services. He stressed that the greatest thing to do is service, which involves not only being better than colleagues but also improving the process and developing the institution for the people.
Dr Mariam Masha called for greater innovation and problem-solving in the public service, representing the Office of the Vice President. She said the Solve for Service Challenge had enabled 10 teams to work on real service-delivery challenges over six weeks, developing practical, evidence-based solutions with the support of mentors and independent judges.
Masha urged public servants to continue questioning old processes and developing solutions that translate government policies into measurable results for citizens. She emphasized the need for public servants to adopt a problem-solving approach, which would ultimately lead to improved service delivery.
The state's Commissioner for Establishments and Training, Mr Afolabi Ayantayo, said the programme demonstrated the administration's commitment to developing a new generation of public servants equipped to meet emerging challenges. Ayantayo noted that the programme provided participants with opportunities to acquire leadership skills, broaden their knowledge, and develop practical solutions to challenges confronting the public service.
The public sector accelerator programme is a significant initiative aimed at transforming the Lagos State Public Service. With the support of the state government and the Office of the Vice President, the programme has equipped 200 public officers with the skills needed to drive change and improve service delivery. The programme's impact is expected to be felt across the state's public service, with participants expected to drive innovation and improvement in their respective ministries, departments, and agencies.
Key points
- Lagos State Governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, and Senior Special Assistant to the President on Regional Development Programmes, Dr Mariam Masha, urge public servants to adopt technology and innovation for improved service delivery.
- The public sector accelerator programme aims to equip public officers with the skills needed to transform the Lagos State Public Service.
- The programme has equipped 200 public officers with the skills needed to drive change and improve service delivery.
