YOUR EXCELLENCY, THE EXECUTIVE GOVERNOR OF OSUN STATE,
ALHAJI ADEGBOYEGA OYETOLA ABLY REPRESENTED BY
ALL NAFOHEADS
ALL NAFOHEADS EXECUTIVES,
ALL REPRESENTATIVES AND
POWERFUL MEN AND WOMEN.
Distinguished Guest, ladies, and gentlemen. It is indeed a great honour to welcome you all to this Public Lecture organized by the National Forum of Heads of Federal Government Establishments in Nigeria (NAFOHEADS) Osun State Chapter to mark the 2021 Africa Civil Service Day. Civil Service remains the most potent and viable instruments available all over the world for the formulation and implementation of policies and programmes of the government, hence, it behoves us as Civil Servants to avail ourselves opportunities that the Service will provide such as the public lecture today to deepen and expand our knowledge, improve our capacities, hone our competencies for the performance of our duties and responsibilities. And, for the Civil Service to remain relevant in the fast-changing and highly technological modern work environment, it is important that we individually and collectively strive at the continuous capacity building to meet the challenges.
As relevant background information, Africa Civil Service Day is a day entrenched in the African Union Calendar, it originated from the Conference of African Ministers of Public or Civil Service held in Tangier, Morocco in 1994. It was agreed at this conference that 23rd June should be set aside yearly as CIVIL SERVICE DAY to recognize the value and virtue of Civil Service to the community.
The Africa Civil Service Day(ACSD) is driven within the AGENDA 2063 which is the African’s blueprint and master plan for transforming Africa into the global powerhouse of the future. It is the continent’s strategic framework aimed at delivering on its goal for inclusive and sustainable development and it is a concrete manifestation of the Pan-African drive for unity, self-determination, freedom, progress, and collective prosperity pursue under Pan-Africanism and excellence in the Civil/ Public Sector, motivating Civil/Public Servants to further promote innovation, enhances professionalism in the Civil/ Public Service, raise the image of Civil/Public Service, enhance trust in government, collect the document and share best practices for possible replication within a country as well as across the African Continent.
This year, ACSD in Osun State will be celebrated under the theme,’’ The consequences of a Bastardised Federalism: A case study of the Nigeria Federal Structure’’ to be delivered by an eminent scholar in the person of Dr. Oluyemi S. OMOTOSHO(Jnr.). The theme of the public lecture is not only interesting but timely. Going apace with the Change Mantra of the current administration requires the Civil Service to be innovative. It is my belief that the 2021 African Civil Service lecture will broaden our appreciation for inventing in the capacity aimed at achieving enduring and sustainable transformation in our system of government.
I want to specially and graciously extend our warm wishes and appreciation to His Excellency, the Governor of our host State, Nigeria, Alhaji Isiaka Gboyega Oyetola, and his amiable teams for his ingenuity in all ramifications and who has early in his tenure and continually registered deep interest in the affairs of the NAFOHEADS, Osun State Chapter.
I also wish to express the appreciations of NAFOHEADS, Osun State Chapter to the Secretary to the State Government Prince Wole Oyebamiji, Head of Service Dr. Festus Oyebade Olowogboyega, and good people of Sun State(the State of Virtues) for the unparalleled support they have been given to Federal Establishments by maintaining and sustaining conducive and enabling environment for unabated growth and development of the Federal Government Agencies in the state.
Distinguished Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for your attention and God bless you all.
Dr.( Mrs ) Kehinde Omolara IDAH