The Kwara State Government has conducted a two-day workshop for state commissioners, permanent secretaries and directors, in an effort to strengthen good governance, effective leadership skills and accountability in the delivery of public services.
The workshop organized by the office of the Chief of Service in collaboration with Triumph Communication was held at the Wingate Hotel, Ilorin, the state capital.
Declaring the workshop open, the Acting Head of Service, Dr. Olufunke Shittu, said the workshop was designed to hone the existing skills of the governor’s assistants by equipping them with contemporary tools and techniques for effective decision-making and leadership in line with global best practices.
“It was also designed to improve collaboration between political and administrative heads for smooth implementation of government policies and programs; and expose us to global best practices in public administration and ethical leadership, reinforcing the need for transparency and accountability, for which the current administration is known,” he said.
The HOS, who said the current administration recognized good governance and effective leadership as pillars of sustainable development and efficient service delivery, commended Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq for his commitment to capacity development.
With the theme ‘Effective Governance and Leadership Skills’, he said the workshop is relevant in the current dynamic environment.
“As Honorable Commissioners and Permanent Secretaries, we form the core of policy formulation and implementation within our respective Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs).
“Our roles require a combination of political acumen and administrative experience to navigate the complexities of modern governance,” the HoS said.
In his keynote presentation as one of the resource persons, Professor Emmanuel Ojo of the Department of Political Science, University of Ilorin, said effective governance and leadership skills are key to the dividends of democracy.
Professor Ojo, former Chief of Staff to the former Governor of Oyo State, also highlighted some of the qualities expected of the participants including: loyalty/competence, daily information, sense of spatial development, being a servant leader, being closer to his constituency, iconic/legacy project, data style/empiricism, listening ear.
The university professor also urged the participants to always adopt the habit of thinking innovatively when it comes to solving social problems. “The government faces new challenges every day that have never been foreseen before,” he said.
Professor Lambe Kayode Mustapha, Professor of Mass Communication at the University of Ilorin, also presented a paper on “Effective Communication: A Report for Senior Government Officials”.
In his remarks, Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, represented by his Chief Advisor and Counselor, Alhaji Saadu Salau, urged the participants to use the knowledge gained to promote good and effective governance in the state.
READ ALSO TOP STORIES OF Newslodge