Emeritus Professor and former Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission, Peter Okebukola, has outlined strategies for enhancing the civil service’s performance in the 21st century.
Speaking as the guest lecturer at a public lecture during the 2024 Civil Service Week, Okebukola stressed the importance of modern education in the workplace.
“Education is key and the kind of education needed in the workplace in the 21st century involves critical thinking, problem-solving, creativity, innovation, collaboration and teamwork, digital literacy, flexibility and adaptability, social and cross-cultural skills,” Okebukola stated.
He also highlighted the necessity for strong leadership, accountability, entrepreneurship, the use of technology, environmental literacy, and resilience and stress management.
Okebukola added, “The managers of the public service in the country must be forward-looking, with projections on how the civil service would be in the next 50 years in terms of provision of various services to the nation.”
In her address, Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, the Dr. Folasade Yemi-Esan, highlighted ongoing efforts to cultivate top talent within the Federal Civil Service to bridge skills gaps and acquire the necessary knowledge for transformation.
She noted that the service is grooming a new generation of leaders through the Leadership Enhancement and Development Programme (LEAD-P), as outlined in the Federal Civil Service Strategy and Implementation Plan 2021-2025 (FCSSIP 2021–2025).
“Under the LEAD-P, the service aims to identify, mentor, and train 500 future civil service leaders by the end of 2025. Already, over 200 officers have been trained and deployed to various Ministries, Departments, and Agencies of government,” Esan stated.
