…Excitement as HoSF receives Nigerian, UK Mayor
By Hillary Asemota
The Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (HoSF), Dr. Folasade Yemi-Esan, was excited over the week end as she received the Mayor of London Borough of Southwark, Michael Situ.
The Mayor, a Nigeria migrated to the UK in 1997 and his team arrived Nigeria on a working visit, to discuss channels of collaboration and student exchange programme that would benefit both countries.
The Mayor and his delegation from the United Kingdom were received by the representative of the HoSF, the Permanent Secretary, Career Management Office (CMO), in the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (OHCSF), Mr. Adeleye Adeoye, in Abuja.
The Director of Communications, HoS, Mr. Mohammed Ahmed, in a statement made available to the media, quoted the HoCSF as saying that the news of the visit was received with great enthusiasm, adding that: “education for all is a responsibility for all.”
“For us, we want to do everything possible to ensure that our citizens at all levels are well educated believing in its efficacy to emancipate people and make them contribute, positively, to societal development,” she added.
The HoSF appreciated the Mayor for focusing on secondary school students as beneficiaries of the exchange programme between Nigeria and the United Kingdom “because they are the future of the Service, nurturing them at that stage will ease their transition into the public sector, in future.”
“We need to get our children back to school to get quality education, in order to contribute favourably to the growth and development of our dear country.” she opined.
She further stated that, the first pillar of the Federal Civil Service Strategy and Implementation Plan (FCSSIP-25), places high premium on human capital development and talent management, adding that learning is an unending adventure.
Speaking earlier, Mayor Situ, stated that one of the aims of the visit is to seek areas of partnership on both sides of the continents, also finding ways on how both countries can be mutual beneficiaries.
While giving an overview of what the programme entails, he disclosed that what cuts across all areas of the public service and being provided by the government at all levels, is education.
“If you have an educated workforce, you will have a productive workforce, a thriving economy, thriving communities and a thriving society, as well.” he added.
He spoke on how schools in the London Borough of Southwark went through years of transformation to become some of the sort after schools in the U.K.
He further said the visit is quite key to understanding the education landscape of Nigeria and how both countries can share best practices, thereby adding value on both sides.
The Administrator/CEO, Public Service Institute of Nigeria (PSIN), Dr. AbdulGaniyu Obatoyinbo, appreciated the Mayor for being a man of his words, having fulfilled his promise to visit Nigeria and for doing the country proud.
He stressed that education is directly linked with knowledge and without it, skills and information, one will remain poor.
In attendance were the Permanent Secretary Ministry of Education, represented by the Director, Education Support Services, Dr. Lydia Giginna, Director, Studies and Learning, PSIN, Mr. Tunde Adeniran, Consultant to PSIN, Mrs Bola Thomas, and Director in the Office of the HoSF, Mr. Adebayo Odejimi.
On the entourage of the Mayor was his Senior Adviser on Education, Mr. David Bromfield, among others.
