The Lagos State Government has urged senior civil servants to embrace artificial intelligence (AI), emotional intelligence and transformational leadership to improve governance and public service delivery.
The Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Ministry of Establishments and Training, Dr Olubusola Abidakun, gave the charge on Tuesday at the opening of a two-day executive development programme focused on emerging technologies and leadership development.
According to a statement issued by the ministry’s Director of Administration, Biodun Akindele, Abidakun, represented by Adedolapo Ajayi, said the training was designed to prepare senior public officers for changes in public administration.
Ajayi urged participants to take advantage of the programme to acquire relevant knowledge, engage actively with facilitators and apply the lessons learned to their official responsibilities.
She stressed that embracing technological advancement and strengthening leadership capacity were essential to improving efficiency and service delivery across the state’s public sector.
One of the facilitators, Prof Ogechi Adeola, Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Research, Innovation and Enterprise at the University of Kigali, Rwanda, said the programme would examine the ethical and responsible application of AI in governance.
Adeola noted that public servants needed to understand the technology before integrating it into government operations, adding that the training would explore the infrastructure and enabling environment required for effective AI adoption in Lagos State.
She said participants would draw lessons from countries such as Rwanda, Estonia and Singapore, focusing on successful practices that could be adapted to Nigeria’s public service.
According to her, the programme would also examine practical applications of emerging technologies in addressing public-sector challenges, including the use of AI-enabled drones in healthcare.
Representatives of medical delivery technology company Zipline were also expected to share their experiences with participants.
Another facilitator, Prof Olusoji George, Executive Officer and Senior Partner at J. Soji-George Consultants (Nig.) Ltd., highlighted the importance of emotional intelligence in effective public-sector leadership.
George said senior civil servants needed self-awareness, social awareness and motivation to understand citizens’ concerns and respond appropriately to issues affecting them.
He explained that transformational leadership required gradual changes in mindset and behaviour, noting that sustainable improvements could not be achieved by expecting people to abandon established practices overnight.
George added that the impact of the training would be assessed after 90 days to determine how effectively participants had applied the knowledge and skills acquired.
The programme forms part of efforts to strengthen leadership capacity among senior civil servants and prepare Lagos State’s public service for the opportunities and challenges presented by emerging technologies.