The Administrative Staff College of Nigeria (ASCON) has begun a capacity-building training for 120 Directors of Administration and Human Resources (HR) from Lagos State, aimed at improving staff performance and enhancing service delivery. The training kicked off on Tuesday at ASCON’s facility, with stakeholders describing it as a strategic move by the Lagos State Government to upgrade its workforce.
Speaking at the event, ASCON Director-General, Mrs. Funke Adepoju, said the decision by the state to present 120 of its top directors for retooling was both timely and historic. She described the initiative as a flagship example of what intentional investment in human capital can accomplish.
“I understand deeply the immense strategic potential this cadre holds in advancing governance reforms and institutional transformation,” she said.
“Today, more than ever, your leadership sits at the epicentre of public service performance.”
Adepoju added that the move reflects the unwavering commitment of Nigeria’s leading sub-national government to strengthen the capacity of its public service managers as a tool for governance, excellence, and institutional innovation.
She explained that the training was built around five key pillars: Strategic Planning, Talent Management, Performance Management, Employee Relations, and Learning and Development.
According to her, these pillars serve as enablers of reform, tools for accountability, and engines of innovation.
“Your departments are not peripheral but central; you manage the people who execute the mandates of government. Therefore, your effectiveness is directly tied to service delivery outcomes,” she said.
Also speaking at the programme, the Lagos State Head of Service, Mr. Bode Agoro, described the event as a clear testament to the state government’s continued commitment to staff training and retraining.
Agoro, who was represented by Mrs. Aina Ololade, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Waterfront and Infrastructure Development, said the aim of the training was to sharpen the skills of directors and improve service delivery across ministries.
“I am very glad to have directors in my own constituency getting their training at the foremost institution for human capacity building in ASCON,” he said.
In her remarks, Mrs. Sunkanmi Oyegbola, the Permanent Secretary, Public Service, Office of the Head of Service, urged the participants to rise to their roles and take their rightful positions in the public sector.
“This is the time to reengineer, rise and make a change to build a Lagos of our own dreams,” she said.
