While marking Chief John Odigie-Oyegun’s 84 birthday, Edo State Governor Godwin Obaseki says the new John Odigie-Oyegun Public Service Academy (JOOPSA) is positioned to transform civil/public service delivery and bridge knowledge gaps in pursuit of excellence.
According the governor, the academy is in partnership with some of the best institutions in the world to offer the best of training in Edo State, including its pioneering collaboration with Nexford, DAI, among others to ensure that its programmes are globally relevant
Governor Obaseki made these revelations while formally inaugurating the academy on Saturday in Benin City.
According to Obaseli, the John Odigie-Oyegun Public Service Academy (JOOPSA) was named after the former governor of Edo State, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, in commemoration of his 84th Birthday Anniversary.
He also enthused that the Academy is a centre of excellence in capacity building.
He further said the Academy represents a key fulcrum in the service-wide institutional reforms which has been implemented in Edo State in the past six years aimed at transforming the service into a nimble, functional and digitally-driven bureaucracy.
His words: “The goal is that our workforce can compete favourably with the best across the globe, with support from JOOPSA.
“The state government embarked on the task of setting up the John Odigie-Oyegun Public Service Academy on the premise that only a well-skilled workforce can drive meaningful and impactful change in governance.
“With the roll out of the state’s e-governance work mode, there was need for such a facility to upgrade the skill and knowledge base of the workforce to reflect the emerging realities in the workplace.
“The state is set to be the most digitized public service in Nigeria on account of the investment in digital infrastructure, having laid over 600km of fibre cable across the 18 Local Government Areas of the state.
“The Academy is named after the first Executive Governor of Edo state and former Permanent Secretary, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, who embodies the fine ethos of integrity, fidelity and excellence. “
Obaseki also pointed out that his administration is committed to investing in capacity building through JOOPSA to enable public servants live up to the mandate of optimal services to the public as well as the horde of private investors rushing to take advantage of the conducive business climate in the state.
Former Head of Service of the federation, Mr. Stephen Osagiede Oronsaye, in his keynote address commended the Obaseki-led administration for the initiative noting that, “without a motivated workforce, no administration can deliver on its mandate. This is why a place like this is needed.”
Oronsaye recalled his experiences in the federal service stating that in his pursuit of excellence in the service, he stepped on many toes that led to his suspension as the then head of civil service of the federation which was later declared illegal.
According to Oronsaye, I stepped on many toes while serving as the HoS in a bid to reform the civil service and I have no regret for all that I did.
On his part, the celebrant Chief Odigie-Oyegun recalled the honour done the late first Nigeria female senator, Franca Afegbua and granting of automatic employment to first class graduates who are of Edo indigenes, by the state governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki and said he is so proud and fulfilled to have had a building named after him while he is still very much alive.
Oyegun also narrated his journey in the civil service and how he rose to the position of Super Permanent Secretary, noting that though his stay was short having retired at the age of 48, a leader must be focused and ready to take risk.
He commended the state governor for laying a foundation that will stand the taste of time, stressing that the governor is the man who envisaged the future.
