Prioritizing training for an efficient Abia workforce in a technologically competitive world
– By Eagle Okoro
It was Tom Flick, a famous American footballer-turned leadership expert and motivational speaker, who once said, “In a world of constant change, the spoils go to the nimble and adaptable – those who can learn and unlearn with equal ease.”
It is against this backdrop that personnel training and retraining in every workplace, private or public, have become critically important, considering the central role they play in human capital development and increased productivity.
Little wonder, the Abia State Governor, Dr Chioma Alex Otti, spared no efforts in approving the nomination of three senior Abia civil servants and one political appointee for a three-week seminar overseas in pursuant of his lofty ambition to upscale and strengthen the state civil service to meet the demand of today’s ever dynamic world.
The list of the lucky nominees includes the Special Assistant to the Governor on Science, Technology & Innovation, Ms. Chibuzor Elizabeth Chijioke, the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Mrs Justina Eboh, Mrs Nnedinma Nwadinobi of the Ministry of Arts, Culture and Creative Economy, and Mr Ogwo Chimaoge of the Bureau of Training, Office of the Head of Service.
They are due to fly out of the shores of Nigeria on July 17 and would be away to Hubei, Jiangsu, and Henan Provinces, in the People’s Republic of China. During their stay, the quartet are expected to scale up their knowledge in digital technology for a more resilient and efficient performance capable of positively transforming the state civil service.
The training is a comprehensively all-expense-paid seminar on Cloud Data Center Planning and Construction and will hold between July 17 and August 6. It is being organised and sponsored by the Wuhan Research Institute of Posts and Telecommunications (FiberHome Technology Group), through the Office of the Consul-General.
It hopes to cover critical digital and technical topics, such as Cloud Data Center Design and Security, Application of AI and 5G in Data Networks, Smart City Infrastructure and International Exchange on Digital Transformation Practices.
The Abia Government’s approval for the training further demonstrates Gov. Otti’s firm commitment to promoting strategic global exposure and technical excellence among Abia public and civil servants, in consonance with his administration’s core vision of building an efficient Abia workforce, adequately equipped to embrace a technologically competitive world.
It is significantly gratifying that under Gov. Otti’s transformational and revolutionary leadership, Abia has continued to soar steadily and progressively, being exponentially repositioned into a hub of technological innovation and beacon of prosperity, driven by transparency, with a solid and enduring infrastructural base.
Moreso, it is evident that the current developmental stride by the visionary governor has continued to invoke and elicit renewed national and international confidence and interest in God’s Own State, thus not only making such trainings and mutually-rewarding bilateral relationships and opportunities possible but increasingly regular.
It is a thing of joy that these four nominees were considered worthy for the impending trip. And as the Abia State ambassadors to the international seminar, it is imperative that their consciousness is sufficiently aroused to the fact that the China trip should not be deemed a jamboree. It is a serious intellectual endeavour, which provides them the unique opportunity to upgrade themselves, digitally and intellectually, so as to be able to contribute their quota toward the onerous task of rebuilding Abia, in sync with the focus and objective of the Otti’s administration.
They are expected to represent the state in China with dignity and distinction, engage fully with the programme, and at the end prepare a brief national presentation on Nigeria’s, nay Abia’s data infrastructure efforts, as well as contribute to post-engagement reporting and knowledge sharing.
It is important they realise that Gov. Otti’s government, which places immense value and premium on personnel training, has by this gesture made a huge investment in them and there is always an expectation, rightly of course, for a return on every good investment.
Therefore, the ultimate outcome and reward that Abians anxiously await to get at the end of the two-week seminar in far away China is a more robust, vibrant, efficient, resilient, eminently productive and visibly transformed Abia civil service that properly aligns with the 21st Century digitally-propelled global village. To God be the glory!
– Eagle Okoro is a Public Affairs Commentator and writes from Umuahia.