Connect with us

News

Olawande commends the launch of OSNI

Published

on

….Describes it as a significant boost to the NIYA initiative of the Youth Ministry

Joel Ajayi

The Minister of State for Youth Development, Mr. Ayodele Olawande has commended the launch of the Outsource to Nigeria Initiative (OSNI) by Vice President Kashim Shettima, adding that it would offer a great boost to the ongoing efforts to curb youth unemployment in the country through the soon-to-be launched Nigerian Youth Academy (NiYA).

Olawande, who gave the commendation today in Abuja, said
the Nigerian Youth Academy, initiated by the Federal Ministry of Youth Development, is aimed at training youths in market driven skills that will empower them to contribute significantly to the economic development of the country

Performing the launch in Gombe on Monday, the Vice President noted that the OTNI is a strategic initiative to redirect the talents and skills that abound in the country and to deliver millions of job opportunities.

“Today, we are not just presenting to you the Outsource to Nigeria Initiative (OTNI) with the honourable aim of taking over the world; we present to you a lens to see the needs of the world, a bridge to interact with the world, and a vehicle to reach the world from the comfort of your offices and homes in Nigeria,” the Vice President had said.

Speaking further on the launch which he described as “another huge step in the fight against youth unemployment,” the Minister said the OTNI would now offer a more extensive platform for the utilization of the skills and talents that the NIYA would spring.

According to him, “What we are planning to do with the Nigerian Youth Academy (NiYa) is to provide free training in all high-demand skill areas, and to also make the platform a meeting point for all the youths we train and employers who wish to engage their services. OTNI has just expanded the opportunities we hope to deliver with NiYA.”

Olawande, who said many youths in Nigeria would soon have no excuse to remain idle, emphasized that OTNI’s digital platform, WorkNation, with the objective of helping partners find, train and deploy talents, would greatly expand the reach and impact of NIYA.

“Collaboration is key in government business. So, I’m already envisaging a collaboration in which WorkNation serves as a sort of off taker for some of the youths we train in NiYA, thereby providing more extensive job openings beyond the academy,” the Minister maintained.

Continue Reading

News

PSIN Administrator Commends Yobe Government for Championing Leadership Continuity and Institutional Sustainability

Published

on


Cyril Igele 


The Administrator and Chief Executive Officer of the Public Service Institute of Nigeria (PSIN), Barrister Imeh Okon, has applauded the Yobe State Government for its strong commitment to leadership continuity and sustainable governance through strategic investment in human capital development.


Barrister Okon gave the commendation at the opening of a Management Retreat for Yobe State Permanent Secretaries, held at the PSIN headquarters in Abuja.


The retreat, themed “Succession Planning, Leadership Continuity, and Institutional Sustainability in the Yobe State Public Service,” convened senior bureaucrats and resource persons to discuss strategies for strengthening leadership and governance within the state’s civil service.


In her remarks, the PSIN Administrator praised Governor Mai Mala Buni for his foresight and partnership in prioritizing public sector training and capacity development. She described the theme of the retreat as both “timely and visionary,” emphasizing that institutions endure only when leadership is continuous, knowledge is shared, and systems—not individuals—drive performance.


“Institutions thrive not merely on structures or policies, but on the deliberate cultivation of capable leaders who can sustain progress across generations,” she said. “By prioritizing leadership continuity and institutional resilience, Yobe State is leading by example.”

Barrister Okon reiterated PSIN’s mandate to build a competent, ethical, and innovative public service capable of delivering tangible results to citizens. She stressed that effective succession planning must be anchored in continuous training, mentorship, and exposure to emerging governance trends.


Citing best practices from Singapore and the United Kingdom, Okon noted that successful public service systems deliberately identify and nurture potential leaders through structured talent pipelines and transparent career development programmes. According to her, Yobe State’s initiative reflects its readiness to sustain excellence in governance.


She also highlighted PSIN’s flagship programmes—SMART-P, which builds administrative and technical capacity; LEAD-P, designed to groom emerging leaders; and the Exit from Service Masterclass, which prepares officers for life after service. Okon urged the Yobe Government to adopt the Exit Masterclass into its human resource framework to ensure a smooth transition for retirees, preserve institutional knowledge, and promote productivity through entrepreneurship and consultancy.


“Succession planning is not an event but a culture that must be institutionalised at every level of public administration,” she added. “When we prepare successors in advance and invest in continuous learning, we guarantee the sustainability of reforms and consistency in governance.”

Declaring the retreat open, the Acting Head of Service of Yobe State, Alhaji Abdullahi Shehu, reaffirmed Governor Buni’s commitment to building a results-driven and high-performing public service.


Represented by the Permanent Secretary, Public Service, Alhaji Shehu, the Acting Head of Service expressed gratitude to God and lauded PSIN as the “mother institution of public service learning.” He stated that Governor Buni has consistently directed the Office of the Head of Service to promote seamless succession planning and capacity building to enhance efficiency and accountability across government institutions.


“In line with this directive, we have brought the top echelon of the state civil service to PSIN—being the drivers and core implementers of government policies and programmes—to strengthen continuity and sustainability in our reforms,” he said.

He urged participants to fully engage in the retreat, share experiences, and cascade the knowledge gained to officers across ministries, departments, and agencies. The exercise, he explained, forms part of a deliberate strategy to institutionalize effective succession planning within the Yobe State Civil Service, thereby ensuring sustained productivity and improved service delivery to citizens.

Continue Reading

Trending

error

Enjoy this blog? Please spread the word :)