Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State, South-South Nigeria has commended the John Odigie Oyegun Public Service Academy (JOOPSA) for the “digital transformation” of public service in the state.
Gatekeepers News reports that Obaseki gave the applause during an open-house conversation with journalists, social media influencers and digital content creators in the state on Tuesday.
In October, JOOPSA trained 540 civil servants in Edo on how to handle the reforms of the state government.
The governor said the academy headed by the Director General, Imuwahen Ajoonu has changed the face of public service operations in the state.
According to him, the academy has ignited a culture change and improved service delivery.
Obaseki said, “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.
“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 JOOPSA, said the academy is committed to a conducive learning environment, a cutting-edge curriculum and a faculty made up of subject matter experts.
She said the academy 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 former Edo governor, John Odigie-Oyegun.
Ajoonu said the academy has become a knowledge and skills hub for public servants.
She said, “The academy has successfully trained 7,040 participants, aligning with its mission to shape a skilled and innovative public service workforce.
“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’.”
