The Nigerian Economic Society (NES), Ogun State Chapter, in collaboration with the Ogun State Government, have organised a 3-Day Capacity Building Workshop for officers in the State’s Civil Service to further strengthen their knowledge on effective Public Service Management.

 Declaring the Workshop, themed, “Framework for Fiscal Management, Effective Governance and Sustainable Development in Ogun State’’, opened in Abeokuta, the Commissioner for Finance and Chief Economic Adviser, Hon. Oladapo Okubadejo, represented by the Commissioner for Budget and Planning, said the event was strategic and timely, having deeper instructions and knowledge to strengthen management skills to reform institutions.

Okubadejo charged the participants, who were Sector Secretaries, Directors of Planning Research and Statistics (DPRS) and Budget Officers to take the training exercise important and apply the knowledge gained professionally, as part of the Public-Sector Decision-Making Process to move the State forward.

“We should see this maiden Capacity Building Workshop exercise with NES as a channel to share knowledge, experience and sustain institutional relationships to improve professional approaches to financial planning across various MDAs in the State,” he said.

In his goodwill message, the Commissioner for Budget and Planning, Mr. Olaolu Olabimtan, pointed out that various laudable initiatives under the present administration were significant to growth due to their positive impacts on professional improvements and knowledge exchange opportunities which have continuously improved the State’s economic landscape.

 Olabimtan, commended the NES, Ogun State Chapter and Ogun State Government for the partnership, saying, the Workshop, on ‘Fiscal Management, Effective Governance and Sustainable Development in Ogun State’, was critical to socio-economic development and had brought Civil Servants, Academics and Professionals together on a central issue concerning Effective Public Administration.

 On her part, the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Tomi Coker, said the Capacity Building Workshop’s focus would help in further development and appropriating State’s resources effectively for substantial and sustainable growth.

 In her welcome address, the Chairperson, National Economic Society, (NES), Ogun State Chapter, Prof. Comfort Amire, said NES, as economists and professionals in development systems, regarded effective planning to be the heart of sustainable development, as Planning Officers were critical to the development processes which translate Government’s priorities into realistic programmes.

Prof. Amire, said the workshop was designed to strengthen the officers’ knowledge and skills in planning and enhance collaboration among MDAs in the State.

The President and Chairman Governing Council, NES, Dr. Baba Musa, whose goodwill message was delivered by Prof. Comfort Amire, commended Ogun State Government for investing massively on the capacity of officers who manage the State’s finances through disciplined budget execution that had made the State an industrial capital of the nation.

 He advised the participants to consider the exercise as investments on themselves for greater future of the State, thereby ensuring full commitment to professionalism with integrity in planning and budgeting systems for improved services to the people of the State.

A participant from the Ministry of Forestry, who is also the Director of Planning Research and Statistics (DPRS) Department, Mr. Aina Olukayode, expressed satisfaction that the Workshop was insightful, with current realities surrounding fiscal responsibilities, effective governance and developmental sustainability.

 He noted that the knowledge gained by participants would positively influence their professional duties for better service delivery.