• Grants 8,000 workers approval for study leave
• Says 30% didn’t return after studying abroad

Lagos State Government, yesterday, said that 51,045 workers in its employment were trained and retrained between 2023 and 2024.

The state’s Commissioner for Establishments and Training, Afolabi Ayantayo, stated this during the ongoing media briefing to mark the second year and second term of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu administration.

Ayantayo said that from a strategic standpoint, the ministry had demonstrated a sustained commitment to training and development.

“Variations in training numbers over the years reflect deliberate recalibrations aimed at improving training effectiveness by aligning learning outcomes with policy goals and integrating performance-based learning approaches.

“Another key aspect of capacity building strategies is the diversification of training structure, with a range of professional development programmes—from introductory orientations for junior staff to high-level strategic courses for senior officers.

“As part of efforts to foster cross-sectoral learning and deepen institutional capacity, the ministry recently completed the onboarding process for officers selected under the Public-Private Sector Personnel Exchange Programme. The programme aims to promote knowledge transfer and collaboration between public institutions and private sector organisations.

“To date, preliminary orientation and deployment planning, including engagement sessions with participating private sector partners, have been concluded, while the 50 selected officers have been briefed on their roles and expected outcomes. Out of the figure, 17 have been matched with organisations whilst 33 others will be matched soon.”

The commissioner said that in the area of industrial relations, the ministry had served as a stabilising force, promoting a culture of dialogue, mutual respect and constructive engagement between the government and the organised labour.

Ayantayo, who said that about 8,000 of its members of staff across the 56 Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) were granted approval to go on study leave in the last three years to enhance their professional skills and competences, also disclosed that the state government, through the ministry in partnership with the Aig-Imoukhuede Foundation and the Blavatnik School of Government, University of Oxford, sponsored over 25 officials on training under the auspices of AIG Public Leadership Programme.

He said that the programme was strategic initiative designed to equip the officials with the skills and mindset required for effective governance.

He, however, lamented that 30 per cent of the staff given study leave abroad did not return to the system.