Collaboration, innovation and results-driven leadership have been said to be more critical than ever in repositioning the Public Service of Ogun State for greater efficiency, effectiveness and responsiveness.

The Head of Service, Mr. Kehinde Onasanya made this known in an address when he declared open the Year 2025 Annual Management Retreat of the Ogun State Ministry of Justice, themed: "Leading Together: Building Stronger Team for Effective Service Delivery", held at the Conference Hall of the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Ibadan, Oyo State.

According to him, the participants must strengthen their existing partnership and explore new frontiers of collaboration in order to make the public service more impactful.

He reiterated that the retreat represents a reinforcement of the huge commitment of the Ogun State Government, under the leadership of Prince Dapo Abiodun, to continuous capacity development of its workforce as a cornerstone of effective governance.

"I have remained guided by the principle of building a professional, merit-driven and people oriented public service which consistently aligns in my leadership with the five cardinal developmental pillars of the I.S.E.Y.A. mantra of the present administration", Mr. Onasanya said.

He added that the retreat is beyond presentations and slide shows as it must be a time for deep and honest dialogue about the individual and collective successes of the participants for the gaps that persist and the opportunities that lie ahead.

Mr Onasanya charged the State counsels and legal officers to see themselves not only as Government lawyers but as custodians of public trust and must therefore allow integrity to guide their work in all ramifications.

He emphasized that officers and civil servants are often trained and retrained to equip them with the right skills, knowledge and mindset that would enable the system to be more productive, accountable, responsive, more bold, analytical and forward looking in order to challenge the outdated practices, interrogate existing assumptions and proffer innovative solutions to the issues confronting Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) of Government in the State.

Earlier in his welcome address, the Solicitor General and Permanent Secretary in the Justice Ministry, Mr. Thomas Olaotan said the retreat was meant to share knowledge, exchange ideas and explore new ideas and perspectives required for bonding in an ever evolving landscape for team work and collaboration, which are crucial for excellence.

Mr. Olaotan said the theme of the retreat spoke directly to the core of the Ministry's collective struggles and responsibilities as team members of the agencies to achieve the set objectives of the State Government in effective service delivery.

He encouraged the participants to step back, reflect and recharge as they collectively focus on strengthening the bonds, enhancing collaboration and redefining their strategies to deliver the exceptional service. 

Highly cerebral professionals who included Mr. Adegoke Adewale Esq. and Mr. Fatai Ogunlana, a retired Permanent Secretary in the Civil Service of Ogun State among others were carefully selected to share from their wealth of experiences by taking the participants through critical  discussions aimed at sharing insights, knowledge and ideas towards leading together to build stronger teams for effective service delivery.