FG partners institute to promote entrepreneurship culture among civil servants

The Federal Government is set to partner with the Institute of Directors (IoD) to promote entrepreneurship culture among civil servants in the country.

Mr Mohammed Manga, Assistant Director Media Relations Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, said this in a statement issued on Thursday in Abuja.

He said that the partnership would also boost commercial orientation in the Nigerian Federal Civil Service.

Mrs Winifred Oyo-Ita, Head of Civil Service of the Federation was quoted in the statement as saying that the partnership would expose civil servants to good financial decision making.

“The recently organised Strategic Public Sector Leadership Programme for Federal Permanent Secretaries in collaboration with the institute was aimed at creating a route for Federal Permanent Secretaries to become members of the prestigious IoD Nigeria

“It was also to expose them and broaden their knowledge in areas such as planning, strategy, decision making, finance and development of leadership qualities.

“The collaboration is in a bid to enable the Federal Civil Service to contribute to the economic diversification drive of the Government.”

She said that the knowledge to be derived from the training by the institute will provide innovative ways of generating income, cutting cost, and ensuring value for money in the implementation of government projects and delivery of service.

Oyo-Ita said that with the development of culture and commercial orientation in the Federal Civil Service, the service and MDAs will become idea generation powerhouses.

She added that the partnership would also make the civil service complement the private sector in creating business opportunities as well as developing business innovation.

She said it would ensure that Civil Servants become very knowledgeable in entrepreneurship and can translate ideas into business.

According to her, the programme is not only a preparation for retiring Federal Permanent Secretaries in entrepreneurship skills.

She added that it was also aimed at providing the Federal Civil Servants with a framework for focusing on truly strategic decisions that will impact on their organisation’s direction, priorities, culture, and ultimately, its success.

The Head of Civil Service of the Federation said that the programme would be extended to the directorate level officers in all the MDAs and subsequently other Federal Civil Servants.

Also, the President of the Institute Mr Samuel Yemi-Akeju pledged the orgabisation’s commitment to enter into partnership with Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation

“IoD Nigeria is ready to enter into collaboration with the Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation in the area of entrepreneurship culture,” he said.

According to him, it is necessary to equip the Federal Permanent Secretaries with techniques for transforming a strategic vision into action projects.