Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has urged public servants to place greater emphasis on technology, innovation and practical problem-solving as the state seeks to improve the quality and efficiency of public service delivery.

Sanwo-Olu gave the charge during the graduation ceremony of the second cohort of a public sector accelerator programme organised by the Lagos State Ministry of Establishments and Training. The event also featured remarks from the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Regional Development Programmes, Dr Mariam Masha, who represented the Office of the Vice President.

The programme brought together 100 public servants, with the governor stressing that its real value would ultimately be determined by what participants were able to change or improve when they returned to their respective ministries, departments and agencies.

According to Sanwo-Olu, the initiative was designed to develop a pool of skilled, motivated and innovative officers capable of contributing to the transformation of the Lagos State Public Service. He also reiterated the administration's focus on workforce development, describing human capital as an important part of sustainable development.

Reflecting on his earlier years in government, when he served as a commissioner, the governor said he had witnessed efforts aimed at improving the public service through capacity development and better performance. He argued that sustained investment in people could strengthen institutions and make them more responsive to the needs of citizens.

Sanwo-Olu also reminded the graduating participants that completing the programme should not be regarded as the end of their learning. Instead, he encouraged them to return to their workplaces with a stronger sense of responsibility and look for practical ways to improve processes and public service delivery.

He emphasised that public service should not simply be about outperforming colleagues, but about finding better ways of doing things and contributing to the development of institutions that serve the public.

Masha similarly called for a stronger culture of innovation and problem-solving within government. Representing the Office of the Vice President, she highlighted the Solve for Service Challenge, through which 10 teams worked for six weeks on real service-delivery problems.

The teams reportedly developed evidence-based solutions with assistance from mentors and independent judges, giving participants an opportunity to apply their training to practical challenges confronting the public sector.

Masha urged public servants to continually examine established procedures instead of automatically accepting old ways of working. She said government workers should focus on developing solutions that can turn policies into measurable improvements in the lives of citizens.

The Commissioner for Establishments and Training, Afolabi Ayantayo, said the programme reflected the Lagos State Government's efforts to prepare a new generation of public servants for emerging demands.

Ayantayo noted that participants were exposed to leadership development, broader professional knowledge and practical approaches to tackling challenges within the public service.

The emphasis on digital capability and innovation also fits into Lagos State's broader push toward technology-enabled public services. The state government's official platform currently provides digital access to a range of services, including employment, health, education, identity management and other citizen-facing services.

For the newly graduated public servants, the immediate challenge will therefore be translating the lessons from the programme into changes within their respective workplaces. The organisers' emphasis was not simply on acquiring new knowledge, but on applying that knowledge to make government processes more effective and responsive to citizens.