By Eghosa Emily
The Edo State Head of Service (HOS), Dr. Anthony Okungbowa Esq., has assured that collaboration among ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) would optimally accelerate the development of the State with guaranteed prosperous future among the comity of states in the Country.
Dr. Okungbowa, represented by the Permanent Secretary, Human Resources, Mr. George Igberease, gave the assurance during a two-day Thematic Pillars’ Engagement, organised by the Directorate of Corporate Change, Communication and Performance Management (Transformation Office), for heads of MDAs and held at the John Odigie Oyegun Public Service Academy (JOOPSA) in Benin City.
The HOS described the event as a pivotal moment in the State’s developmental journey. He outlined the focus areas of the two days’ meeting, which was structured around eight thematic pillars – Institutional Reform, Infrastructural Development, Environmental Sustainability, Security and Public Safety, ICT Ecosystem, Arts and Culture, Social Welfare Enhancement, and Economic Revolution.
According to the HOS, “These pillars represent the foundation of our mission to drive sustainable growth and improve the quality of life for our people”. He stressed the importance of collaboration, urging participants to use the forum to celebrate progress, identify areas for improvement, and co-create strategies that align with the State’s priorities.
Dr. Okungbowa while acknowledging the hard work of the Planning Committee, commended the professionalism displayed in the organization of the event. He encouraged active participation, stating that meaningful engagement and collaboration are critical to achieving the desired outcomes.
“As we embark on this two-day journey, let us remain committed to our shared vision of excellence, innovation, and service delivery. Together, we can chart a path toward a brighter and more prosperous future for our State,” he concluded.
The Permanent Secretary of the Transformation Office, Dr. (Mrs.) Joy Akhigbe, emphasized the importance of evaluating the achievements and challenges of MDAs annually. She explained that the gathering aimed to identify key issues affecting the efficiency of MDAs and bring them to the attention of the Head of Service and the Governor for further necessary action.
Dr. Akhigbe stated that the meeting will review performance metrics at individual and organizational levels. She maintained that the move was aimed at fostering accountability and continuous improvement across all sectors of governance in the State.
She disclosed that the engagement sessions had revealed significant challenges faced by MDAs, which were hindering their performance. She also highlighted the introduction of a new work appraisal module which is designed to address gaps in performance. According to her, the module will provide a comprehensive review of activities for the year and will be fully operational by year 2025.
Participants at the meeting who expressed appreciation for the initiative include the Director of Shared Services in the Office of the Deputy Governor, Mr. Omobu Sam. He described the programme as valuable, noting that it provided a clear assessment of the year’s activities, uncovered areas requiring improvement, and helped participants prepare more effectively for year 2025. He added that the session offered an opportunity to address unmet aspirations and realign goals for the coming year.
