Edo Govt. Engages Stakeholders on 2023 Training Calendar for Public Servants

The Edo State Government has organized a one-day workshop to gather input on the training calendar implementation that would be in effect in the State of Edo in 2023.

Held at Benin City’s John Odigie Oyegun Public Service Academy (JOOPSA), the event was attended by Permanent Secretaries and Heads of Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs).

The Edo State Head of Service, Anthony Okungbowa Esq., emphasized in his welcome speech the importance of regular training for public servants, which is why the current administration established the Academy.

According to Okungbowa, “As the saying goes in computer language: garbage in, garbage out. What you provide to the service in terms of developing intellectual property is what the service will return the favor.

“As a government, we have acknowledged the value of trainings and the necessity of conducting them in a methodical manner given our status as a strategic service. Based on this rationale, we chose to arrange this workshop with JOOPSA management in order to get a broad understanding of the subjects for which trainings are required.

Our main task for today is to come to a decision regarding the type of calendar we should use for this year’s trainings. The essence of the exercise is to agree on the set of criteria that we would use in what will eventually be part of the training calendar that would detail courses in line with the needs of all MDAs”.

According to Okungbowa “We will not deviate from the learning calendar; it serves as our guide. To ensure that we reach a decision that will advance our service, I sincerely hope and expect that each of you will fully engage by contributing your own ideas, thoughts, and suggestions.”

During the workshop, Dr. Joe Abah, the Country Director of DAI Global LLC, also gave a speech in which he commended the State Governor for establishing JOOPSA, an organization whose main goal is to enhance the skills of public servants in the State. Abah emphasized the clusters of core competencies required for public servants to function effectively and efficiently. “Obsolete skills need to be upgraded as modern service now requires public servants who are technologically savvy and performance driven to compete with their counterparts in the private sector,” stated Abah.