Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, has urged political leaders and senior public servants to embrace strategic foresight in policymaking and governance to promote sustainable development and prepare the state for future challenges.
Abiodun, represented by the Head of Service, Alhaji Olanrewaju Iskeel Saka, spoke at the opening of a three-day Capacity Development Programme on Foresighting for Strategic Leaders in Ogun State at the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), Oba (Dr.) Sikiru Kayode Adetona School of Governance Studies (OSKASOGS), Ago-Iwoye.
He said effective leadership required anticipating emerging trends, identifying opportunities and assessing potential risks rather than focusing solely on immediate challenges.
According to him, strategic foresight would help government officials explore future scenarios and integrate long-term considerations into policy formulation, budgeting, planning and programme implementation.
He said the initiative aligned with his administration’s Building Our Future Together vision and its commitment to strengthening the public service for effective service delivery.
The Governor noted that Ogun State’s expanding industrial base, strategic location along the Lagos-Ogun economic corridor and growing investment opportunities made long-term planning essential to ensuring that infrastructure, education, healthcare, housing and employment kept pace with the state’s development.
He challenged participants to consider the skills young people would need to remain competitive, the infrastructure required to sustain industrial growth and the measures government must take to prevent emerging risks from becoming major challenges.
Abiodun commended the Director-General of NIPSS, Professor Ayo Omotayo, for supporting the initiative, and the Director of OSKASOGS, Professor Sola Adeyanju, mni, for hosting the programme.
He also appreciated NIPSS for providing the training at no cost to participants, urging them to apply the knowledge gained to improve decision-making and strengthen public institutions.
In his remarks, Saka stressed the importance of continuous training in equipping public servants with the skills and competencies needed to address emerging governance challenges.
He commended the immediate past Head of Service, Mr Kehinde Onasanya, for pioneering the strategic leadership management course at the Awujale School of Governance Studies, noting that bringing political leaders and senior public servants together would strengthen collaboration and promote a shared understanding of the state’s development priorities.
Saka urged participants to translate the lessons from the programme into practical improvements in governance.
In his goodwill message, Onasanya described Abiodun as a strong advocate of capacity building, saying the programme had continued to enrich participants’ knowledge, strengthen the civil service, foster teamwork and improve the implementation of government policies and programmes.
Similarly, Adeyanju commended the Governor for providing policymakers and public servants with the opportunity to strengthen their strategic leadership skills. He urged participants to use the training to contribute to Ogun State’s growth and development.
The programme is designed to equip participants with techniques for identifying emerging trends, exploring alternative future scenarios, assessing risks and opportunities, and incorporating long-term thinking into government policies and development plans.
Participants include the Commissioner for Industry, Trade and Investment, Mr Debola Sofela; Commissioner for Cooperatives and Community Development, Hon. Ademola Balogun; Commissioner for Health, Dr Tomi Coker; Special Adviser to the Governor on Information and Strategy, Hon. Kayode Akinmade; Chairman of the State Universal Basic Education Board, Evangelist Joshua Ifede; as well as permanent secretaries, directors and other senior officials from various ministries, departments, agencies and parastatals.