Palton Morgan seeks synergy among Lagos, Ogun civil servants on projects

A real estate firm, Messrs Palton Morgan, has moved to ensure synergy and partnership among Lagos and Ogun States civil servants, working in housing related Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) .

The initiative was to boost effectiveness of public sector workers through exposure to global best practices, institutional collaborations, Public Private Partnership dynamics, sustainable competitiveness and inclusive national growth.

Senior government officials and public sector stakeholders attended the three-day programme hosted in partnership with the Lagos Business School, themed ‘Enhancing Economic Competitiveness.’

The attendees included special assistants to governors, permanent secretaries, directors and heads of MDAs in the real estate sector.

The course facilitators were members of the Strategy Group in LBS, Dr. Nkemdilim Iheanachor and Dr. Dolapo Tukumi, Course Organiser, Dr. Frank Ojadi, member, Faculty of Operations Management and Lead facilitator and Manager, Oreva Atanya.

Others are Partner at Ernst & Young Nigeria, John Uwajumogu; Founder/CEO, Active Edge Technologies Limited, George Agu and Senior Executive, Deloitte, Ife Adedoyin.

Speaking on the initiative, Chairman, Palton Morgan Holdings, Femi Olubanwo, said the company organised the course to enrich and educate regulators on current economic strategies and power of synergy.

On the choice of Lagos and Ogun, Olubanwo said both are contiguous states. “If this initiative goes as we hope, we will find Lagos and Ogun states working together on projects, planning and development, which will benefit our society and sector in particular,” he said.

The Non-Executive Director, Palton Morgan, Delphine Misan-Arenyeka, said it was part of its social responsibility to the states it operates in. “We are building the capacity of senior public servants. Hopefully, it will translate to their subordinates and ultimately, result in greater success in policy and regulations.”

Speaking on the Economic Competitiveness and Process of Economic Development, Nkemdilim emphasised integrating competitiveness to enhance good governance and attract investments.

Speaking on Real Estate Development and Reuse, Deloitte Senior Executive, Ife Adedoyin, said: “The Public sector should incentivise land purchase and titling process by giving some value-adds for every landed property bought and developed.”

She said: “Real estate is fundamentally linked to economic development, so why don’t both states collaborate? Ogun has more land, while Lagos has more businesses and economic opportunities. So, Ogun builds more houses and Lagos provides more viable economic opportunities. A certain cost is charged from a sustainable transport scheme.”

In her remark, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Physical and Urban Planning, Lagos State, Abiola Kosegbe, said, “There is a lot to take home. The fact that you have been able to select people from the built environment to attend the programme is a testimony that Palton Morgan is interested in developing the sector.”

Her counterpart at the Lagos State Ministry of Housing, Wasiu Akewusola, reiterated that the training was significant for civil servants’ capacity development.

The Director of ICT and Business Development, Ogun State Housing Corporation, Olufunmilayo Sorunke, said, ” I have learned to develop new business strategies and not business as usual.”

The Director, Administration and Personnel at the Ogun State Property and Investment Company, Taiwo Ogunyoowo, said: “The partnership is impressive.”