Closing Ceremony Cohort 1

The Closing Ceremony of the Lagos State Public Service Accelerator Programme (PSAP) was held on Tuesday, September 9, 2025, marking the culmination of three months of intensive learning, mentorship, and leadership development. The event was not only a celebration of the Accelerators’ journey but also a formal platform to showcase the programme’s success as a pioneering initiative of the Lagos State Government. It brought together government leaders, facilitators, mentors, and participants in an atmosphere of reflection, recognition, and inspiration. With a carefully curated programme featuring speeches, goodwill messages, entertainment, participant reflections, and award presentations, the ceremony highlighted the transformation of the selected civil servants into a new cadre of leaders for Lagos State.

The highlight of the ceremony was the series of powerful keynote addresses that set the tone for the future of public service leadership in Lagos.

Mr. Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu, Governor of Lagos State, represented by the Deputy Governor, Dr. Kadri Obafemi Hamzat, delivered the keynote address, commending the Accelerators for their commitment and reinforcing his administration’s dedication to investing in human capital as the most important driver of governance excellence. His speech emphasized sustainability, reform, and the THEMES+ agenda as the anchors of Lagos’ public service transformation.

Mr. Afolabi Ayantayo, Honourable Commissioner for Establishments and Training, delivered the opening address, positioning the Ministry as the state’s leadership incubator and reaffirming its resolve to continuously build capacity across the public service. A Special Lecture was delivered by Professor Ayo Omotayo, Director General, National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS) on “Building Public Service Excellence”.

The lecture provided a thought-provoking conversation on policy, leadership, and strategic reforms as foundations for sustainable governance. Ms. Oluwatoyin Atanda, Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Establishments and Training, led the presentation of awards to outstanding participants, celebrating excellence, resilience, and innovation among the cohort. She also delivered a reflective narrative on the programme’s journey, highlighting its milestones, impact, and the collective efforts of facilitators, mentors, and participants in shaping the success of the inaugural edition. Mrs. Olubusola A. Abidakun (MCIPM, HRPL, FITD), Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Establishments and Training, delivered the vote of thanks, expressing heartfelt appreciation to the Governor, dignitaries, facilitators, and participants. She acknowledged the unwavering support that made the programme a reality and encouraged the Accelerators to translate the lessons learned into meaningful contributions within their MDAs and the wider Lagos State Public Service.