By: Tolulope Oluwole
The Chartered Institute of Public Administration of Nigeria (CIPAN) on Thursday 18th August, 2022 organized a one day seminar for its members in Ondo State held at the State Ministry of Finance conference hall, Alagbaka, Akure with the theme “Strategic Advanced Leadership Training For Public Administrators”.
The State Chairman of the Institute, Chief Dele Akinmoye while welcoming guests and participants to the the seminar noted that the seminar had earlier been organised by the national body of CIPAN in Abuja between 18th and 20th May, 2022 to drive home the importance of advanced leadership training for Public Administrators but fewer numbers of the members were able to attend, hence the need to domestic and step down it to members in the state. “On the strength of the foregoing, the State Chapter has, therefore, decided to replicate it in Ondo State, with minimum cost, to reach large numbers of the members.”
According to Akinmoye, the objective of the seminar is to enhance members and participants’ leadership skills, professionalism and administrative capability with a view to improve their decision making skills.
He further stressed that at the end of the program, participants leadership skills will be enhanced with new knowledge of the model of strategic making process in modern public organizations and would have a clear understanding of the challenges and responsibilities of strategic administrators.
“It is my belief that the Seminar will encourage members to be more productive and effective in the discharge of their duties across Ministries, Deparments and Agencies in Ondo State Pruhlic Service. I have no doubt that your attendance and participation will be rewarding”, Akinmoye said.
In a remark, the Ondo State Head of Service, Pastor Kayode Ogundele while declaring the seminar open, applauded the leadership of the Institute for thinking outside the box to organize such impactful seminar.
While urging the participants to make use of what they learnt, Ogundele noted that training of workers must be sustained, it must not suffer.
The HoS also advised them to be dedicated to duties and be of optimal performance.
The Resource Person, Alhaji Olakunle Sanni, a Retired Permanent Secretary in the state, in his lecture, stated that one of the major functions of such institute is to train manpower for the country and CIPAN is saddled with the responsibility of training public officers, that is, those who work in government establishments.
“The public officers have to be trained, CIPAN suppose to own the skills of public administrators because there is no government that can do without the services of public administrators, we gather the data for policy formulation, we also get involved in analysing the data for policy formulation, we get involved in implementing the results of those policy formulation, if we are not good in what we do, there will be problem”, Alhaji Sanni said.
“It is necessary for public administrators to come together often to exchange ideas on how to do things, how we have done things, how we should do it and how we are going to do it. When we know this, we will continue to innovate, when we innovate, we bring new ideas and achieve progress.”
“As a leader, you must learn, acquire new skills to be relevant, be reformed and renovated, you should be able to manage the people under you, pay attention to cultural changes in your organization, don’t do everything all alone, give works to your workers and monitor them. Look at everything from the positive side, develop yourself and others, deal with employees when necessary and manage your team”.
The Guest lecturer charged the participants to do the right thing at the right time, not to compare themselves with others, do things differently, study their environment and plan very well before taking actions.
Some of the participants who spoke with SUNSHINETRUTH including the Vice Chairman of CIPAN in Ondo State, Comrade Gideon BAKARE, said the training was educative and timely as there are many grounds to cover within the public service especially on training and retraining.
Bakare who is also the Secretary of the Trade Union Congress, TUC in Ondo State, encouraged members to always avail themselves the rare opportunities that Chartered Institute of Public Administration of Nigeria (CIPAN) brings to doorstep and also pleaded that the Government should always create the enabling environment for such.
The Vice Chairman added that he was impressed with the presence of the Head of Service, Pastor Kayode Ogundele and his eye opening contributions at the programme by the Guest lecturer and the HoS.
