Precious Imuwahen Ajoonu, the Director General of the John Odigie Oyegun Public Service Academy (JOOPSA) said the academy has trained 7,050 civil and public servants in Edo State in the last 10 months.
Ajoonu, who disclosed this during Open House for journalists, social media influencers and online content creators in Benin City added that the academy also trained personnel in the private sector within and outside the state.
She opined that the strategic partnerships with industry experts, including collaborations with institutions like Nexford University, the Project Management Institute of Nigeria, and Development Alternatives Incorporated (DAI) have helped the Academy to effectively scale its operations.
She noted that the academy has had a transformative impact on civil and public service training and ushered in a new era of excellence under Governor Godwin Obaseki’s visionary leadership.
According to her, JOOPSA was established in March 2023 and officially launched on August 12, 2023, in honor of John Odigie-Oyegun’s birthday. Since then it has become a knowledge and skills hub for public servants.
“To date, the Academy has successfully trained 7040 participants, aligning with its mission to shape a skilled and innovative public service workforce”,she said.
Ajoonu added that the academy is committed to a conducive learning environment, cutting edge curriculum and a faculty made up of subject matter experts.
JOOPSA director general explained that the academy offers a diverse programme portfolio covering vital courses such as “Managing the Retirement Disruption,” “Negotiation and Collaboration for Leaders,” and “Public Policy Evaluation and Interpretation.”
She, however, reiterated the academy’s commitment to continuous professional skills enhancement through innovative training programmes and expanded collaborations with industry leaders, ensuring ongoing relevance and excellence in public service delivery.
Earlier, Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, commended the management of the academy for the positive impact it has had on the civil and public service since it came into existence in 2022.
Obaseki noted that the academy headed by Imuwahen Ajoonu has changed the way the public service operates, by igniting a culture change and improving service delivery.
“I must commend what Ajoonu is doing at JOOPSA. She has changed the way the civil and public service operates and that is what we sought when we put up the academy.
“This has also made the digitalization of government activities easier as the civil servant can now function within a system that promotes continuous learning and development due to the training they have been given at JOOPSA.
“The entire state will definitely benefit from the impact of JOOPSA in the near future, as we focus on strengthening our institutions, through capacity building,” Obaseki added.
