The Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Establishments and Training, Dr. Olubusola Abidakun, has charged participants of the Lagos State Public Service Accelerator Programme (PSAP) Cohort II to embrace discipline, punctuality and resilience as essential qualities for effective leadership in the public service.
Dr. Abidakun gave the charge during an interactive mentoring session with participants of the programme, which is designed to develop emerging leaders and strengthen leadership capacity within the Lagos State Public Service.
She emphasised that punctuality and effective time management are critical to achieving excellence in governance, noting that public officers must lead by example and demonstrate the standards they expect from others.
According to her, timeliness is not merely a personal habit but an important quality that contributes to professional credibility, productivity and the development of a strong institutional culture.
“Leadership starts with timeliness. Timeliness opens the door for you,” she said, urging the participants to make punctuality a consistent part of their professional and personal lives.
The Permanent Secretary stressed that leaders are constantly being observed by colleagues and subordinates, making it important for them to model positive behaviours that others can emulate.
She encouraged the PSAP Cohort II participants to remain committed to continuous learning, maintain high professional standards and demonstrate resilience when confronted with challenges in their leadership journeys.
Abidakun also urged the emerging public service leaders to understand that effective leadership requires more than technical competence, stressing the importance of character, discipline, accountability and the ability to inspire others.
She noted that the quality of leadership within the public service has a direct impact on the effectiveness of government institutions and the delivery of services to citizens.
The Permanent Secretary expressed confidence that the participants would apply the lessons gained from the programme to their respective roles and contribute meaningfully to the growth and transformation of the Lagos State Public Service.
She urged them to remain disciplined, resilient and committed to excellence as they progress in their careers.
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