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The Enugu State Government on Saturday trained and graduated political appointees on Leadership Masterclass, aimed at strengthening governance, strategic thinking and service delivery in the state.
The programme titled: “Graduation and Award Ceremony”, was held on Saturday at the International Conference Centre, Enug.
The leadership initiative began after Gov. Peter Mbah assumed office in 2023 and was coordinated by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Prof. Chidiebere Onyia.
Those trained and graduated included Special Advisers (SPAs), Senior Special Assistants (SSAs) and Special Assistants (SAs) to Gov. Mbah.
Speaking at the event, the governor said the masterclass formed part of his administration’s deliberate effort to build capacity of government officials.
Mbah noted that the programme was designed to reposition public service delivery and improve governance outcomes in the state.
Represented by the Deputy Governor, Mr Ifeanyi Ossai, the governor said the administration aimed to change the traditional approach to governance, through innovative ideas and improved systems.
He added that the government remained committed to achieving measurable results for the people of the state, stressing that members of the administration must remain focused on delivering impactful services to citizens.
The governor emphasised the importance of innovation and strategic thinking, noting that disruptive ideas were necessary to reform existing governance systems.
He also acknowledged the sacrifices made by some public officials, who had used personal resources while carrying out government assignments.
Mbah urged the appointees to remain resilient, in spite of public criticisms, noting that scrutiny was a natural part of public service.
He expressed the need for effective communication of government policies and programmes, to ensure that the citizens understood ongoing reforms.
Earlier, the Secretary to the State Government, Prof Chidiebere Onyia, said the leadership masterclass was designed to strengthen team cohesion, leadership capacity and strategic delivery within government.
He explained that the programme aimed to build a culture of thought leadership, innovation and continuous learning in the state’s governance structure.
Onyia added that the initiative was inspired by the administration’s commitment to institutional capacity, agile leadership and quality service delivery.
According to him, the training also focused on improving adaptability, transparency and accountability among political office holders.
He said that guest speakers were occasionally invited to engage the appointees and that the training would continue until 2031, when the current administration was expected to end.
According to him, in a knowledge-driven economy, ideas and wisdom are critical assets, but leaders must translate ideas into practical governance solutions.
Responding on behalf of the participants, Dr Collins Ogbu, Senior Special Adviser to Mbah on Strategic Communications, commended the governor and the SSG for the initiative.
Ogbu said the masterclass challenged them to rethink leadership and reinforce that governance must be defined by performance, teamwork, transparency, and service to the people.
The event featured the presentation of certificates and awards to participants, who successfully completed the leadership training.
