Historic Capacity Building Initiative Transforms Lagos Public Service
The year 2025 has marked a transformative period for the Lagos State Public Service, establishing new standards in workforce development and professional training. Under the strategic leadership of Commissioner Mr. Afolabi Ayantayo and Permanent Secretary Mrs. Olubusola Abidakun, the Ministry of Establishments and Training has executed an ambitious capacity-building agenda that has reached every professional level within the state's public service.
Unprecedented Training Reach Across All Cadres
From January through August 2025, the Ministry coordinated and delivered over 120 distinct training programs, setting a new record in the history of public service training in Lagos State. The comprehensive initiative left no professional stream untouched, providing development opportunities for Administrative Officers, Judicial Officers, Engineers, Public Affairs Officers, Tourism Officers, Accounts Officers, and virtually every other cadre within the state workforce.
The training curriculum covered an extensive range of critical themes designed to enhance public service delivery. Participants engaged in programs focusing on leadership and management, digital transformation, ethics in public administration, communication and emotional intelligence, service delivery, and project management. Each program was carefully tailored to improve efficiency, competence, and productivity in daily operations.
Government's Commitment to Human Capital Development
Commissioner Afolabi Ayantayo emphasized that the sustained commitment to capacity building reflects the government's fundamental belief that institutional excellence depends on human capital quality. "The Lagos State Government, under Mr. Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu, has invested heavily in people because people are the ultimate drivers of progress," he stated.
Ayantayo further explained that "The trainings we have embarked upon this year are not token gestures; they are part of a structured, continuous agenda to strengthen service delivery through knowledge, innovation and professionalism. We have trained more people this year than ever before, and the results are already showing in better service delivery, improved efficiency and a more motivated workforce."
Transformative Impact on Public Servants
Permanent Secretary Mrs. Olubusola Abidakun described the year's achievement as the result of consistent strategy combining vision with meticulous planning. She noted that treating training as a culture rather than an event has yielded remarkable results. The Ministry maintained a relentless schedule of in-person workshops, hybrid learning sessions, and technical courses, with officers demonstrating inspiring energy and enthusiasm throughout the process.
Testimonials from participating civil servants confirm the program's transformative impact. Mrs. Temitope Dawodu from the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture described her customer service and cultural management training as "an eye-opener" that significantly enhanced her understanding of service delivery in a modern tourism economy.
Mr. Jamiu Hassan, an Administrative Officer from the Civil Service Commission, reported that his leadership development course "reshaped his mindset about responsibility and ethics in public service," while Mr. Babatunde Adekoya, a Public Affairs Officer from the Ministry of Information, attested that communication and media engagement training improved both his writing skills and confidence in handling public communications.
Digital Infrastructure and Policy Reforms
To sustain the momentum, the Ministry is advancing work on rejuvenating the State's Learning Management System (LMS), which previously faced technical challenges. The fully restored LMS will provide a seamless digital platform for continuous learning and staff development across all Ministries, Departments, and Agencies, enabling self-paced, technology-driven training opportunities.
Beyond training initiatives, the Ministry has demonstrated strong leadership in establishment management. Key achievements include the successful implementation of increased monthly subventions to four state-owned higher institutions: Lagos State University (LASU), Lagos State Polytechnic (LASPOTECH), Adeniran Ogunsanya College of Education (AOCOED), and Michael Otedola College of Primary Education (MOCPED).
The Ministry also streamlined administrative processes through standing approval for exit replacement in the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) and health sector. This policy allows agencies to seamlessly replace staff who exit service without requiring fresh gubernatorial approval each time, preventing workforce depletion and maintaining operational efficiency.
Additional welfare measures include salary adjustments for medical and dental staff, responding to legitimate agitations by healthcare professionals. The Ministry continues to manage and evaluate the state government's personnel budget, ensuring proper alignment between staff needs, wage obligations, and projections for new recruitments and promotions.
Through advisory interventions on human resource matters including discipline, conversion, promotion, and further studies, the Ministry has maintained harmony and administrative coherence across the public service. The achievements of 2025 represent significant stepping stones toward the larger vision of an efficient and globally competitive public service that ultimately benefits all Lagos residents.
