Sanwo-Olu reaffirms drive for a future-ready Lagos Public Service

Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu, has restated his administration’s commitment to transforming the state’s public service into a world-class, citizen-focused workforce driven by innovation, accountability, and technology.

Speaking at the closing ceremony of the Lagos State Public Service Accelerator Programme (PSAP), themed “Pass It On: Sustaining Excellence in Public Service,” held at the Adeyemi Bero Auditorium, Alausa, the Governor—represented by his Deputy, Dr. Kadri Obafemi Hamzat—said that human capital development remains central to the state’s reform agenda.

According to him, the THEMES+ Agenda cannot be achieved without deliberately strengthening the capacity, mindset, and effectiveness of those charged with implementing government policies. He described the PSAP as a strategic investment designed to prepare Lagos’ workforce to tackle 21st-century challenges with creativity, empathy, and resilience.

“Public service is the backbone of governance and the engine that drives policy execution. Our goal is to institutionalise excellence so that it becomes a culture passed from one generation of public servants to the next,” the Governor said.

Sanwo-Olu added that the programme demonstrates his administration’s determination to modernise government operations by equipping officers with the skills to embrace innovation and deliver quality service to citizens.

Sanwo-Olu assured that his government would continue to support initiatives that reinforce excellence, accountability, and continuity in the service.

Delivering a goodwill message, the Chairman, House Committee on Establishments, Training, Pensions and Public Service, Hon. Oladele Ajayi, praised the initiative as proof of the state government’s resolve to build a resilient and future-ready workforce.

He noted that focusing on officers at Grade Levels 12–14 ensures the values of innovation, diligence, and accountability remain entrenched in the system.

Earlier, Commissioner for Establishments and Training, Mr. Afolabi Ayantayo, explained that the three-month accelerator programme exposed participants to training in leadership, communication, technology, diplomacy, financial literacy, and mental health, alongside mentoring sessions with Permanent Secretaries. Through the Pass-It-On initiative, participants were able to cascade knowledge to over 500 junior colleagues across 20 ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs).

Ayantayo described this as a “multiplier effect that sustains excellence in the service,” stressing that Lagos’ strength lies not only in infrastructure and economy, but in the professionalism and commitment of its workforce.

In his lecture, the Director-General of the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), Prof. Ayo Omotayo, emphasised the need to institutionalise excellence rather than treat it as episodic.

He identified middle-level officers as pivotal to governance, as they interpret policy directives, draft frameworks, and mentor junior officers.

“Empowering this cadre ensures continuity, resilience, and institutional memory in public service,” Omotayo said.

The event, attended by senior government officials, lawmakers, and public servants, ended with a charge to participants to become torchbearers of excellence, ensuring that the culture of service delivery remains a lasting legacy in Lagos.