Lagos State Government has concluded plans to introduce it’s Smart City objectives through the train–the– trainer workshop, aimed at ensuring the right skills and competences required for the objectives are imbued in public servants in the state.
Director General, Office of Transformation, Creativity and Innovation, Mr. Toba Otusanya, who made the remarks at the opening of a workshop, at the weekend, reiterated the state government’s commitment to achieving a subset of the ongoing campaign on “Growth Mindset.”
Otusanya explained that the ‘train-the-trainer’ workshop designed to encourage public servants in the state to think outside the box and come up with creative and innovative solutions to the day to day operations of the state government, is targeted at officers on Grade Levels 10-14, who would be taken through an intensive programme , involving practical exercises to enable them move from a Fixed to a Growth Mindset, and thereafter train others.
According to him, “The rationale behind the workshop is that Lagos sees itself as a forward looking state and wants to tap into new ways of working by leveraging on technology and moving from the traditional way of working to a more efficient and effective way, with greater emphasis on technology in delivering public services.”
He explained that the training programme which has been slated for May, would run for three-six months, and officers who have been nominated from various Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), to serve as innovation ambassadors and subject matter experts in their respective MDAs, would be the ones promoting the culture of creativity and innovation, thereby serving as role models to others.
“In order to ensure that additional value is added, external consultants would be involved in the training process, but more importantly, these officers who would serve as Innovation Ambassadors and also double as internal consultants would be the ones to cascade the knowledge gained through training to others.
“This is to make Public Servants take full ownership of the programme and ensure its sustainability,” he added.
Otusanya, therefore, urged all beneficiaries of the training to show commitment by participating actively in the training programme, adding that their participation and compliance are crucial in determining the success or otherwise of the campaign.
While revealing plans to carry every officer along in the campaign, the DG said officers in the Local Government Areas, as well as those on Grade Levels 1-6 in the mainstream would be carried along in due course; and therefore appealed to all public servants in the state to embrace the change campaign in its entirety as it is an opportunity for their talents to be recognized, even as they develop as individuals.
It would be recalled that the Growth Mindset Development Programme kicked off with media briefing to sensitise public of the rationale behind it, which is to create 21st century Public Service, with better ways of handling government challenges.
The train–the-trainer workshop is to position about 100 Public Servants selected from various agencies, to train other officers in their respective MDAs on Growth Mindset and the need to adopt the approach in the discharge of their duties.