By: Tijani Salako.
The Lagos State Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture on Friday hosted 10 participants of the Lagos State Public Service Accelerator Programme, PSAP, for a mentorship and knowledge-sharing session aimed at building leadership and service delivery capacity among young public servants.
The engagement, held at the Ministry’s Conference Room in Alausa, was led by the Permanent Secretary, Mrs. Bopo Oyekan-Ismaila, as part of PSAP’s structured mentorship visits to Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), across the state.
Welcoming the participants, Mrs. Oyekan-Ismaila described PSAP as a strategic investment by the Lagos State Government to develop a new generation of public officers equipped to provide innovative solutions to governance challenges.
She urged the Accelerators to uphold the core values of the Lagos State Public Service, including loyalty, discipline, professionalism, integrity and commitment.
“Effective public service extends beyond technical competence to include mutual respect, humility and the ability to work collaboratively and build trust with colleagues, stakeholders and citizens,” she said.
The Permanent Secretary emphasized that public servants must continuously learn, adapt and embrace innovation, especially as technology and changing citizen expectations redefine government service delivery.
She encouraged them to apply the knowledge gained through PSAP to improve processes, introduce innovative ideas and develop practical solutions within their respective MDAs.
Sharing insights from her career journey from the banking sector into public service, Mrs. Oyekan-Ismaila told the participants to see every stage of their career as an opportunity for growth.
“Successful leadership is built over time through experience, continuous learning, discipline, integrity and the willingness to serve others,” she added.
She further charged the Accelerators to be good ambassadors of the Lagos State Public Service, noting that their conduct and professionalism would shape public perception and strengthen citizens’ confidence in government.
PSAP is a capacity-building and leadership development initiative of the Lagos State Ministry of Establishments and Training designed to identify and nurture high-potential officers as future leaders and change agents.
The programme combines structured learning, mentorship, peer engagement and practical problem-solving with focus on accountability, collaboration, digital transformation, policy implementation and citizen-focused service delivery.
A key feature, the “Pass It On” session, encourages participants to transfer knowledge and skills gained to colleagues and other stakeholders.
Officials said the mentorship at the Tourism Ministry gave participants practical perspectives on public sector administration, institutional management and service delivery within the tourism, arts and culture sector.
The initiative is part of the State Government’s broader effort to strengthen workforce capacity and prepare young public servants for more strategic roles in transforming the Lagos State Public Service.
