The Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Ministry of Establishments and Training, Dr. Olubusola Abidakun, has urged participants in the second cohort of the Lagos State Public Service Accelerator Programme (PSAP) to make discipline, punctuality and resilience central to their development as future public sector leaders.
Abidakun gave the charge during an interactive mentoring session with participants of PSAP Cohort II, where she stressed the importance of effective time management in building a professional and productive public service.
According to her, punctuality goes beyond simply arriving at work on time, describing it as an essential leadership quality that can influence the behaviour and culture of an entire organisation.
“Leadership starts with timeliness. Timeliness opens the board for you,” she said, urging participants to lead by example and establish standards that colleagues and subordinates can emulate.
The Permanent Secretary also shared personal experiences from her career in the Lagos State Civil Service, using her journey to illustrate the importance of perseverance when faced with professional challenges.
She recalled that her early years in the service, which began about 24 years ago, were not without difficulties. The pressure and challenges she encountered at the time, she revealed, brought her to the point of considering resignation on several occasions.
However, she said perseverance, continuous self-development and the determination to remain committed to her career helped her overcome those difficult periods.
Abidakun encouraged the participants to adopt a similar mindset, particularly as they prepare to take on greater responsibilities within the public service.
The mentoring session is part of the capacity-building activities under PSAP, a programme focused on developing high-potential officers and preparing them for leadership roles in a changing public sector environment.
Participants were advised to see challenges within the workplace as opportunities to gain experience, improve their capabilities and make meaningful contributions to the Lagos State Civil Service.
The programme continues to emphasise leadership, ethical conduct, innovation and professional development as essential qualities for officers seeking to contribute to a more effective public service.
