Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu, has restated his administration’s commitment to strengthening the state’s public service through sustained investment in capacity-building, leadership development, performance-driven culture and technology adoption.
EpeInsights reports that the Governor made this known on Thursday at the closing ceremony of the Lagos State Public Service Accelerator Programme (PSAP), tagged “Pass It On: Sustaining Excellence in Public Service,” held at the Adeyemi Bero Auditorium, Alausa, Ikeja. He was represented at the event by his Deputy, Dr. Kadri Obafemi Hamzat.
Sanwo-Olu emphasised that from inception, his administration placed human capital development at the centre of reforms in the public sector, noting that the state’s THEMES Plus Agenda can only be achieved by deliberately investing in the capacity, mindset, and effectiveness of the workforce.
“The public service remains the backbone of government operations and the engine of policy execution,” he said.
“To achieve the bold goals of our THEMES Plus Agenda, we must equip our officers with the tools, knowledge and mindset to solve 21st-century problems with innovation, empathy, and accountability.”
He described the PSAP as a forward-looking initiative that reflects government’s vision of shaping a future-ready public service for a #GreaterLagos.
According to him, the programme not only modernises governance but also institutionalises excellence and knowledge transfer across generations of public servants.
Chairman, House Committee on Establishments, Training, Pensions and Public Service, Hon. Oladele Ajayi, in his goodwill message, described the programme as a clear demonstration of the THEMES Plus Agenda in action.
He noted that the deliberate investment in Grade Level 12–14 officers ensures continuity, innovation, and accountability within the system.
Commissioner for Establishments and Training, Mr. Afolabi Ayantayo, in his welcome address, reaffirmed the Ministry’s mandate to empower and reposition the state workforce.
He disclosed that over the past three months, PSAP participants had undergone intensive training in leadership, communication, innovation, technology, mental health, diplomacy, teamwork and financial literacy.
Ayantayo added that the Pass-It-On initiative where participants cascaded their knowledge to over 500 younger colleagues across 20 ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs)—underscored the programme’s multiplier effect in sustaining excellence within the service.
Delivering the keynote lecture, Director-General of the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), Mr. Ayo Omotayo, stressed that excellence in governance must be institutionalised rather than episodic.
He highlighted the critical role of middle-level officers (Grade Levels 12–14) as the backbone of governance, responsible for interpreting policy directives, drafting frameworks, and mentoring younger staff.
Omotayo maintained that empowering this cadre guarantees continuity, institutional memory, and resilience in the public service.
The PSAP closing ceremony reaffirmed Lagos State’s resolve to build a citizen-centric, globally competitive, and future-ready public service capable of sustaining the vision of a Greater Lagos.
