Vice President Kasim Shettima and Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) George Akume have hailed the impact of the Leadership Enhancement and Development Program (LEAD-P), initiated by the Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation, as a pivotal step in rejuvenating Nigeria’s civil service.
At the Graduation and Presentation Ceremony of LEAD-P batch 2 participants in Abuja, Shettima applauded the initiative, stressing its potential to address enduring challenges within the Nigerian civil service.
“This marks a further turning point in the fortunes of the public service and the civil service in Nigeria and the astute work that has been done that continues to be done in requisitioning the service. I assure you that it’s a new dawn,” remarked Shettima.
He highlighted the evolving challenges of leadership in today’s complex systems and lauded the rigorous training undergone by the graduates, anticipating their role as change catalysts within the civil service.
“The idea behind training a select few is for them to infect in a good way the vast majority with what they have learned and to replicate themselves everywhere. The task will not be easy. The world is watching and your job is cut out for you,” added Shettima.
Representing Akume, Dr. Nnamdi Maurice Mbaeri, the Permanent Secretary of the General Services Office (OSGF), underscored the LEAD-P program’s significance as a pivotal element of the Federal Civil Service Strategy and Implementation Plan 2021-2025.
Addressing the graduates directly, Mbaeri emphasized the transformational journey they undertook, urging them to employ their intellect, skills, and leadership with integrity for the nation’s advancement.
“To the 107 graduates, your journey through this program has been one of intellectual rigour and personal transformation. You have been challenged, stretched, and moulded into the leaders our nation needs,” he affirmed.
Echoing these sentiments, Folasade Yemi-Esan, the Head of Service of the Federation, stressed the imperative of investing in human capital for national development.
“Investing in human knowledge and skills is an urgent necessity for development. This is because people are the main engine for growth and without skills or knowledge and personnel, it’s not possible to achieve the growth, development and advance rates that nations aspire to,” Yemi-Esan emphasized.
The LEAD-P program’s focus on officers from salary grade level 10 to 14 is aimed at establishing a robust foundation for the future of the civil service. Yemi-Esan further highlighted its objective of influencing mindset changes among officers to enhance their leadership capabilities.
