Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, has urged political leaders and senior public servants to adopt strategic foresight in policymaking and governance to promote sustainable development and prepare the state for emerging challenges.
Abiodun, represented by the Head of Service, Olanrewaju Iskeel Saka, made the call at the opening of a three-day Capacity Development Programme on Foresighting for Strategic Leaders in Ogun State, held at the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), Oba (Dr.) Sikiru Kayode Adetona School of Governance Studies (OSKASOGS), Ago-Iwoye.
The governor said effective leadership required the ability to anticipate emerging trends, identify opportunities and assess potential risks rather than concentrating solely on immediate challenges.
According to him, strategic foresight would enable government officials to explore alternative future scenarios and incorporate long-term considerations into policy formulation, budgeting, planning and programme implementation.
He said the initiative aligned with his administration’s Building Our Future Together vision and its commitment to strengthening the public service for improved service delivery.
Abiodun noted that Ogun State’s expanding industrial base, strategic position along the Lagos-Ogun economic corridor and growing investment opportunities made long-term planning imperative to sustaining development.
He stressed that infrastructure, education, healthcare, housing and employment opportunities must keep pace with the state’s economic expansion.
The governor challenged participants to reflect on the skills young people would require to remain competitive, the infrastructure needed to sustain industrial growth and the measures government must adopt to prevent emerging risks from escalating into major challenges.
He commended the Director-General of NIPSS, Ayo Omotayo, for supporting the initiative, as well as the Director of OSKASOGS, Sola Adeyanju, for hosting the programme.
Abiodun also expressed appreciation to NIPSS for providing the training at no cost to participants, urging them to apply the knowledge acquired to improve decision-making and strengthen public institutions.
In his remarks, Saka emphasised the importance of continuous training in equipping public servants with the skills and competencies required to address emerging governance challenges.
He commended the immediate past Head of Service, Kehinde Onasanya, for pioneering the strategic leadership management course at the Awujale School of Governance Studies.
Saka said bringing political leaders and senior public servants together would strengthen collaboration and promote a shared understanding of the state’s development priorities.
He urged participants to translate the lessons from the programme into practical improvements in governance and public service delivery.
In his goodwill message, Onasanya described Abiodun as a strong advocate of capacity building, noting that the programme had continued to enrich participants’ knowledge, strengthen the civil service, foster teamwork and improve the implementation of government policies and programmes.
Similarly, Adeyanju commended the governor for providing policymakers and public servants with the opportunity to strengthen their strategic leadership skills. He urged participants to deploy the knowledge gained towards advancing Ogun State’s growth and development.
The programme is designed to equip participants with techniques for identifying emerging trends, exploring alternative future scenarios, assessing risks and opportunities, and incorporating long-term thinking into government policies and development plans.
Participants include the Commissioner for Industry, Trade and Investment, Debola Sofela; Commissioner for Cooperatives and Community Development, Ademola Balogun; Commissioner for Health, Tomi Coker; and Special Adviser to the Governor on Information and Strategy, Kayode Akinmade.
Others are the Chairman of the State Universal Basic Education Board, Joshua Ifede, alongside permanent secretaries, directors and other senior officials from ministries, departments, agencies and parastatals.
