News
Olaopa reiterates online training deepening in the Civil Service
Joel Ajayi
….assures Taraba HOS of his support.
The Chairman, Federal Civil Service Commission (FCSC), Prof. Tunji Olaopa has reiterated the need for civil service to deepen its capacity development by incorporating online training. He said people tend to think class room based training does so much to build capacity; saying that this is very limiting as we tend to emphasize big trainings neglecting basic skills trainings.
Olaopa stated this when Taraba State Head of Civil Service led by Mr. Paul Maigada Tino paid him a courtesy visit in his office.
He said mentoring should also be deepened; stressing that the unfolding methods of coaching and staff exchange as well as internship and cross-pollination of ideas should be encouraged in the public service.
While welcoming the guests, he said what Taraba Civil Service was facing was not dissimilar to what is happening in some other States. Olaopa asserts that what is needed in Taraba State is extensive rediscovery by bringing back some of the good practices and fundamental skills that made the reputation of Civil Service good in the good old days.
As he assured Taraba State (HOS) that he will give all necessary support and guidance to his team to succeed as he aimed to build effective and professionally oriented Service for Taraba State; he pointed out that Civil Service is the engine room for politics and governance; and he needed to manage the interface and relationship based on model that benefits from smart practices guided by administrative guidelines of the Service.
He revealed that it is very important for HOS to have cordial relationship with the State’s Civil Service Commission to have a sound footing. According to him, the two organizations have defined functions that complement each-other like Siamese twins and not to be in competition.
He told the guests that there was lot to benefit from the Federal in the areas of skills improvement through the online programmes especially the LEAD-P, SMAT-programmes among others. He concurred with Taraba HOS that meeting with the Federal-HOS was a good move. He advised that it should be strengthened to support the State’s IPPIS. He said LEED-P is an online training by Federal HOS is important; and he urged the team to engage with Federal HOS in this area; saying it will help them not only in training and development but with career and talent management of officers which he called “leadership pipeline” as the world is graduating to competence catalogue where organization specify competency it needs at every level.
He advised Taraba State Head of Civil Service on the need to work more on their online and digital penetrations especially e-governance programme for service delivery. He said there was a need for Civil Service to manage its interface with the youths through social media to avoid a lot of gaps in communications as the world is driven by Artificial Intelligence (AI) and technological innovations.
He said enhancing the competitiveness of pay and compensation for civil servant was key as part of re-professionalizing the service. He asserts that Taraba HOS needs to ground his staff in EFCC laws, ICPC laws and code of conduct as staff do not know them because of laxity bureaucracy. He equally said performance bond needed to be incorporated into Taraba HOS; stressing that in his interactions with the State’s Civil Servants they were very passionate and willing to learn based on their punctuality and quality contributions.
He disclosed that public and private partnership (PPP) which Taraba State embarked on was good but “governance code” known as Public Service Rules (PSR) needed to be rethink to attract private sector partnership. He specifically believed in strengthening basic bureaucratic skills, competency levels and basic internal management control in Taraba Civil Service; as well as Civil Service that returns to stewardship relationship with the public as people do not trust public institutions.
Speaking earlier, Taraba State Head of Civil Service, Mr. Paul Maigada Tino who came in company of his team disclosed that he was just appointed as Taraba State Head of the Civil Service. He equally said that he was in the Commission to collaborate in the area of manpower development; adding that Federal Civil Commission is very key in the affairs of Civil Servants in the country.
He further disclosed that Taraba State has few personnel at Federal level in terms of Federal appointments and they need the assistance of the Commission to fill this vacuum.
Tino recalled the capacity development seminar Olaopa conducted in the State which he said was very impactful on the Staff. He stated that the State wants to tap from the wealth of experience of the Chairman. According to him, working with FCSC-Chairman will enable them to fill the State’s Civil Service identified gaps. He revealed there was training gaps in the State’s Civil Service as those employed in the last two years were yet to get induction training.
He informed Olaopa that he has equally visited Office of the Head of Service of the Federation (OHSF) in order to strengthen the State’s IPPIS using its ICT capacity.
Foreign news
Diplomatic Community in Nigeria Joins Italian Envoy in National Day Celebration
By Joel Ajayi
It was a vibrant evening of joy, connection, and cultural celebration as the Acting Ambassador of Italy to Nigeria, Mr. Iacopo Foti, hosted members of Nigeria’s diplomatic community in Abuja to commemorate Italy’s National Day, la Festa della Repubblica.
Held in the heart of Nigeria’s capital, the event was a memorable gathering marked by laughter, heartfelt exchanges, and a shared appreciation for the enduring ties between Italy and Nigeria.
In his address, Mr. Foti described the occasion as a time to reflect on the core values that define Italy: liberty, democracy, justice, and the enduring creativity and resilience of its people.
“It is a day to celebrate our rich history, our unparalleled cultural heritage, and our contributions to art, science, and innovation,” he said. “But beyond Italy, today we also celebrate the strong and growing bonds between the Republic of Italy and the Federal Republic of Nigeria — our economies, our cultures, and above all, our people.”
The ambassador emphasized the depth of the bilateral relationship, recalling that diplomatic ties between Italy and Nigeria were established on February 20, 1960. He noted that since the 1970s and 1980s, Nigeria has become a second home for many Italians who have contributed significantly across various sectors.
“We are proud to be part of this welcoming and vibrant society,” he said. “I have personally witnessed the dedication, entrepreneurial spirit, and warmth of the Nigerian people, as well as their hospitality toward the Italian community.”
Looking ahead, Mr. Foti expressed optimism about the future of Italy-Nigeria relations, pointing to untapped opportunities for deeper economic cooperation, technological collaboration, and cultural and academic exchange.
“Nigeria is a cultural powerhouse, a leader in Africa and globally in art, literature, and film,” he remarked. “Italy, with its deep-rooted cultural legacy, is eager to expand its engagement with Africa, and particularly with Nigeria.”
He acknowledged the growing Nigerian interest in Italian culture — from fashion and design to cinema and tourism — while noting that Italy hosts the third-largest Nigerian diaspora community globally, after the United States and the United Kingdom.
The ambassador also highlighted the countries’ cooperation on global challenges such as climate change, peace and security, migration, and human trafficking. Both nations are signatories to the Paris Agreement and active participants in global policy dialogues.
“Our relationship is built on mutual respect and understanding,” he noted. “We see this in our economic ties, cultural exchanges, love for football, and the increasing number of Nigerians who study and travel to Italy, as well as Italians drawn to Nigeria’s rich history and culture.”
He pointed out the many shared qualities between Italians and Nigerians, from strong family values and communal bonds to a vibrant fashion industry and a dynamic film sector.
“We are both historically migrant societies that have achieved success abroad while keeping close ties to our homeland,” Mr. Foti said. “We share humor, resilience, and a deep appreciation for life’s ironies.”
Addressing the issue of stereotypes, he cited renowned Nigerian author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, saying: “The single story creates stereotypes, and the problem with stereotypes is not that they are untrue, but that they are incomplete.”
He concluded by expressing gratitude for the support of Nigerian authorities and all who attended the celebration.
“On behalf of the Italian government and the people of Italy, I extend my sincere thanks to everyone who joined us. Your presence is a testament to the strength of our friendship and our shared future.”
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