Obaseki commends John Oyegun academy for ‘public service reforms’

Godwin Obaseki, Edo governor, has commended the John Odigie Oyegun Public Service Academy (JOOPSA) for the “digital transformation” of public service in the state. 

The governor spoke on Tuesday during an open-house conversation with journalists, social media influencers and digital content creators in the state. 

In October, the academy trained 540 civil servants in Edo on how to handle the reforms of the state government.

Obaseki said the academy headed by Imuwahen Ajoonu, the director general, has changed the face of public service operations in the state.

He added that the academy has ignited a culture change and improved service delivery.

“I must commend what Ajoonu is doing at JOOPSA. She has changed the way the civil and public service operates and that what we sought when we put up the academy,” the governor said. 

“This has also made the digitalization of government activities easier as the civil servant can now function within a system that promotes continuous learning and development due to the training they have been given at JOOPSA.

“The entire state will benefit from the impact of JOOPSA shortly, as we focus on strengthening our institutions, through capacity building.”

Ajoonu, who took the participants on a tour of the academy, said JOOPSA is committed to a conducive learning environment, a cutting-edge curriculum and a faculty made up of subject matter experts.

She said JOOPSA has transformed civil and public service training, ushering in a new era of excellence under Governor Godwin Obaseki’s visionary leadership. 

Established in March 2023 and officially launched on August 12, 2023, in honour of John Odigie-Oyegun, former Edo governor, Ajoonu said the academy has become a knowledge and skills hub for public servants.

“The academy has successfully trained 7,040 participants, aligning with its mission to shape a skilled and innovative public service workforce,” Ajoonu said. 

“The strategic partnerships with industry experts, including collaborations with institutions like Nexford University, the Project Management Institute of Nigeria, and Development Alternatives Incorporated (DAI) have helped the academy scale its operations effectively.

“The academy offers a diverse programme portfolio covering vital courses such as ‘Managing the Retirement Disruption’, ‘Negotiation and Collaboration for Leaders’, and ‘Public Policy Evaluation and Interpretation’.”