The Oyo State Government has urged civil servants to continually upgrade their skills and embrace lifelong learning to remain relevant in an evolving workplace and enhance service delivery across the state.
The Commissioner for Establishments and Training, Prof. Abdulwaheed Adelabu, gave the charge on Friday during a one-day capacity-building workshop for 85 civil servants in Ibadan.
Speaking at the event, Prof. Adelabu said the training formed part of the government’s efforts to equip employees with the knowledge and competencies required to meet the changing demands of public service. He noted that continuous learning would enable workers to become more efficient, productive, and better positioned to deliver quality services to residents.
The commissioner said the administration of Governor Seyi Makinde remained committed to the training and development of both academic and non-academic personnel to ensure optimal performance.
According to him, regular capacity-building initiatives are essential to improving workforce efficiency and enabling employees to adapt to evolving workplace requirements.
On workers’ welfare, Prof. Adelabu said the Makinde administration continued to prioritise the wellbeing of civil servants despite prevailing economic challenges.
He cited the state’s Sustainable Action for Economic Recovery (SAfER) programme, the N10,000 monthly fuel subsidy allowance, and the provision of government buses as measures introduced to cushion the impact of economic hardship on workers.
“Based on economic indices, Oyo State is among the three best states in Nigeria when it comes to workers’ welfare,” he said.
Prof. Adelabu, however, encouraged civil servants to explore additional legitimate sources of income to strengthen their financial resilience.
Also speaking, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Establishments and Training, Alhaji Alade Bello, who was represented by the Director of Pension and Gratuity, Olufemi Ogungbile, underscored the importance of continuous professional development.
According to Bello, professional competence can become obsolete if workers fail to update their knowledge and skills. He added that capacity development is determined not by years of service, but by an employee’s willingness to learn and adapt to emerging challenges.
In her remarks, the Executive Secretary of the Simeon Adebo Staff Development Centre, Stella Okedum, said employees must embrace continuous learning to remain aligned with global workplace trends.
“It is no longer business as usual,” Okedum said, assuring participants that Artificial Intelligence (AI) would not replace workers who remained committed to learning, innovation, and continuous self-improvement.
She stressed that adaptability and lifelong learning would remain critical attributes for sustaining employability in an increasingly technology-driven world.
