…State Govt, Lagos youths broker reconciliation; pledge commitment to conflict resolution

Drawing lessons from the aftermath of the string of violence that trailed the youth-led nationwide protests against police brutality last year, Lagos State Government has brokered a reconciliation with youths in the State.

Youngsters across the State, on Tuesday, defied the national holiday and came together to participate in a peace conference aimed at creating a common platform to pursue resolution to conflicts.

Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, who was physically in attendance, listened with rapt attention as the youths led conversation on how they could effectively channel their grievances to the authorities.

It was all at an event with the theme: “Rebuilding for Greatness: Peaceful Conflict Resolution”, held at the LTV Blue Roof and organised by the Ministry of Youth and Social Development. The event was facilitated by the Governor’s Senior Special Assistant on Youth Matters, Saheed Akanbi.

The seven-man discussion panel moderated by Mazi Sam Uche Anyamele, a filmmaker, set the tone for the Governor’s response to various suggestions and ideas shared by youths at the event.
Sanwo-Olu, dressed in Boy Scouts’ venturing green shirt and light-brown pants with yellow tie to match, declared: “the moment for true reconciliation has begun.”
With the commitment to peace pledged by the youth, the Governor said Lagos could now undergo a total healing process after last year’s coordinated attacks on its assets, which also resulted in loss of lives and livelihoods.

He said: “Today is a day of reconciliation and it is about our teeming youths. This is the moment to create a common ground and take ownership of our future. We have indeed assessed what we have passed through as a people; it’s now the moment to come together and build our lives together.

“This event is about aggregating all the conversations of the millions of youths that have been represented here. All of us have agreed that, when we work together, we can build a resilient society we will truly be proud of. We will continue to build, engage and work with our young people. I certainly will not give up on you as partners in progress and your ability to bring about positive changes.”
Sanwo-Olu agreed with the youths that there was need for inter-generational dialogue to proactively address issues that may lead to conflict, assuring the participants of his administration’s readiness to champion causes that would be beneficial to young people.

The Governor said he believed the youth must not only be granted a stakeholder status in the State’s project, but also be given prime seats at places where decisions are taken. He said his administration had shown example by appointing scores of young people under 40 years into the State Executive Council, political aides and administrators of Government’s agencies.

Sanwo-Olu also promised to increase the State’s investment in human capital development and equip the youths with requisite 21st skills that would empower them economically.
He said: “I thank all the youths who participate in this forum for the valuable suggestions offered and the ideas shared. I’m taking full responsibility and ownership of all the feedback recommended for me here. All the points have been taken and I will continue to rely on them in the course of governance.”

Commissioner for Youth and Social Development, Hon. Segun Dawodu, said the State Government recognised the youth as stakeholders in peace building and violence prevention, stressing that the Governor’s physical presence at the event was an indication of Sanwo-Olu’s commitment to turn listening ears to issues faced by the youth.

Represented by Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Dr. Oluwagbemiga Aina, the Commissioner said the aftermath of negative conflicts would never be beneficial to any society and its people.
He said: “Rebuilding Lagos for greatness is a multifaceted task that involves constructing a formidable identity using the power of the State to unify people of common interests for a common goal. Together we will rebuild, recover and Lagos will emerge stronger. The aftermath of the past crisis will not determine the destiny of the State.

“We can find solution to our conflict in our unique education and value system, in our creativity and innovation, in our hard work and resilience. As we foster relationships with our youths, it is a charge on all of us to take responsibility for our today and uphold human dignity, equity, social justice, human rights and inclusiveness.”

The keynote speaker and Deputy Vice Chancellor of the Lagos State University (LASU), Prof. Wahab Ellias, said the theme of the event connoted a resilient city, stressing that conflict remained endemic and part of the society’s makeup.
The Professor of Sociology posited that conflict remained inherent in any society where there constant struggles among social classes usually took place.
He however said constructive engagement and peaceful dialogue are key to settling all conflicts, irrespective of their nature.

“Clashes of ideas among the social classes and cultural differences are part of the reasons why conflicts arise. There is nothing bad in conflict, but a conflict that is not progressive in nature is bad and inimical to the peace in the society,” he said.

The don appealed to the Government to keep its promise of raising investment in human capital, which, he said, remained a key factor in preventing conflict. Youths, Ellias said, are the most important resources for the Government to harness.

Some of the participants had the opportunity to share their thoughts.

Miss Halimat Akanni-Shelle, thanked the Governor for giving the youth a listening ear and privilege to rub minds with decision makers.
“We are ready to join hands and take action in building a Lagos that is safe and functional for all of us,” she said.

A transformational leadership trainee, Miss Mary Makinde, described the Governor as a progressive leader, defining progressive leadership to be selfless act driven towards purpose, vision and motivation.
She said Sanwo-Olu was not just leading by action, but showing examples that could be emulated.

She said: “Despite the ugly circumstances that befell Lagos in the past year, the Governor has remained focused on the situation and focused on things that matter. This is progressive leadership.”
Leader of National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) in Lagos, Comrade Rasheed Ogunsanya, described the youth as the engine room of Lagos’ resilience, thanking the Governor for identifying with young people.

Lagos State chairman of the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), Billiaminu Oba, presented a 14-page suggestion and resolution on the way forward vis-a-vis youth engagement to the Governor.

As part of efforts to increase productivity and proffer solutions to issues affecting Public Affairs Officers in the 57 Unified Local Government Councils, the Local Government Service Commission has organised a sensitisation programme for all Heads of Public Affairs Units in Local Councils across the State.

In his address at the programme, themed: “Perception Management in the Local Government” and held at Yaba LCDA, the Chairman, Local Government Service Commission (LGSC), Mr. Kamal Bayewu, reaffirmed his commitment to rendering necessary cooperation to all cadres to contribute more to the growth and development of the Local Government Councils.
Bayewu emphasised the urgent need to train all the Public Affairs Officers employed in the 57 Unified Local Government Councils, reminding participants that as the mouthpiece of the various local councils, they are expected to be resourceful and ensure the authorities get adequate feedback from the people in the community.

Mr. Ahmed Seriki, the Commissioner representing Epe Division in LGSC, urged the Public Affairs Officers to improve on their skills and knowledge acquisition to perform optimally on their jobs.
The newly deployed Permanent Secretary, Local Government Service Commission (LGSC), Mr. Biodun Bamgboye, said the Public Affairs Officers should avoid personal aggrandisement and selfish interest.
He noted that their productivity will create a smooth, cordial relationship in their work environment, advising them to develop a good dress sense, cultivate a microphone culture and ensure they invest in themselves, especially in view of the present knowledge-driven world.

Mrs. Kikelomo Bolarinwa, the Permanent Secretary, Local Government Establishment, Training & Pensions, appreciated the Chairman and the entire Commission members, reiterating the importance of the role of the Public Affairs Officers in the Local Councils.

The facilitator of the programme and former Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Kehinde Bamigbetan, stated that the Public Affairs Officers should ensure that they are in harmony with all their principal officers.

He reiterated the need for Public Affairs Officers to have a cordial and good working relationship with all the political leaders, the management and staff as perception managers in their respective councils, saying that PAOs are also expected to get intelligent reports about their environment and initiate ideas that would be highly appreciated.
While emphasising the need to develop communication strategies for disseminating the programmes and policies of local governments to the public in the most acceptable way, Bamigbetan urged the officers to obtain the right communication tools like cameras and computers to ease their jobs.

The facilitator pointed out the need for Public Affairs Officers to have a cordial relationship with the various media organisations and be compliant with the new media, noting that “As PAOs you need to learn, unlearn and relearn to function effectively and efficiently in your assigned responsibilities”.

The Chairman Yaba LCDA. Mr. Kayode Adejare Omiyale, appreciated the efforts and commitment of the Commission members and the Directors of the Local Government Establishment, Training and Pensions, just as he advised the Public Affairs Officers to be more productive and resourceful in the discharge of their duties.

In her remarks, Mr. Temitope Kuku, President of the 57 Unified PAOs Association, appreciated the efforts of the Commission members for the capacity building opportunity, promising that the knowledge acquired will be fully implemented at their various duty posts.

Also present at the event were the Director, Admin and Human Resource Department (LGET&P), Mrs. Oluwatosin Adegun; Director, Recruitment Disciplinary and Exit, Mr. Sedoten Ogabi; Director, Accounts & Finance, Mr. Akeem Shonibare (LGSC); Director, Establishment, Mrs. Olawunmi Dada (LGET&P) and Asst. Director, Electronic – Human Resource, Mrs. Abosede Ilori (LGSC), among others.

Accompanied by the First Lady, Mrs. Emine Erdogan, President Erdogan is expected to come in from Angola, and depart to Togo at the end of his visit.
In the course of the visit, the leaders of the two countries are expected to consider about two dozen Bilateral Agreements and Memoranda of Understanding, MOUs and they will authorize the signing of those on which there is a concurrence.

In addition to the bilateral discussions, President Erdogan will hold one-on-one meeting with President Buhari and he is expected to commission the Turkish Cultural Centre in Abuja while his wife, Emine, accompanied by the First Lady, Mrs. Aisha Buhari is expected to commission the newly-renovated Government Secondary School in Wuse 11.
The school was renovated by a Turkish aid organization, the Turkish Cooperation and Coordinating Agency, TIKA.
Nigeria considers Turkey a close partner and sees this visit as a milestone in our bilateral relations.

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With new technology such as AI support and smart cameras, the workplace of the future can be anywhere

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In what felt like the blink of an eye, the work landscape was transformed as the pandemic spread across the world in 2020. Entire workforces went mobile, seemingly overnight, while organisations bolstered existing remote working processes.

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And when the world emerges on the other side of this life-altering event, it won’t revert to the way things were before. By some estimates, 70 percent of the workforce will work remotely at least five days a month by 2025.

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Even in South Africa, where face-to-face meetings, office models and in-person communication has long been the standard, a hybrid model – a combination of remote and on-site working – will likely be the answer in the future, says Marilyn Moodley, Country Leader for South Africa and West, East, Central Africa at SoftwareONE. “In-person interaction will not, and should not, go away completely. But hybrid models offer employees more choice – and with newer technology to support it, hybrid working may become the norm.”

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Organisations have also realised that it can give them a competitive advantage – trimming costs and helping them attract the right talent, says Moodley. “Of course, there were some growing pains. Remote work can improve work/life balance, but it can also blur the lines between work and home, leading to burnout. Already, new AI-based technologies from Microsoft, such as Microsoft Viva, MyAnalytics and Workplace Analytics, can highlight where burnout may be occurring so that steps can be taken to prevent it. And in future, such AI support will become essential.”

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Setting up for success

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Meeting room devices and cloud-based virtual machines are also key to this new way of work, says Moodley. “Many organisations have already adopted various newer forms of laptops, including lightweight or tablet-based versions, as well as smartphone access to corporate data such as email. In the future, hybrid meeting devices that allow both in-person and remote participation will become just as necessary. Devices exist in the market which can help remote participants feel more involved in the meeting while working remotely. Innovations such as smart cameras that can zoom in on a speaker and follow them if they are moving, will help give remote participants a better meeting experience.”

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Other innovations such as a cloud-based virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI) should also be considered, she adds. “The recently released Windows 365, for example, allows a worker to connect to their corporate desktop from any supported device remotely, with the same look and feel from either device. Cloud is a great leveller, giving massive global organisations and owner-run small businesses the same tools.”

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The human quotient

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Though technology seems to pull focus in the future workplace, the key to a successful shift towards a hybrid model is to remain people-centric, says Moodley. “These processes should be more people than technology focused. Simply buying and migrating to Microsoft 365 without robust change management processes, will not be enough. It’s essential to recognise that there is a person at the other end of these devices.”

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This is the only way to overcome the ‘last mile problem’ – a term coined with the invention of the telegraph, she adds. “The telegraph was a game-changer, but not everyone lived close to a telegraph station. The last few miles had to be undertaken by someone on bike, horse or foot – or the technology would not have solved any problems. The same remains true for newer technology. Change management processes like Prosci ADKAR®, for example, are crucial – providing not only training and how-to guides, but also a framework on the stages of successful change.”

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SoftwareONE will typically start with an advisory process when implementing any change for its clients, she says. “This helps us understand pain points and priorities to produce technical roadmaps to implement new systems. We also provide Microsoft Cloud Accelerator workshops, an essential tool for keeping employees and data safe while implementing a remote working strategy.”

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The shift to a remote working future might seem intimidating, but it need not be, says Moodley. “With the right planning, and by listening to the needs of the people in your organisation, you can set out a clear path to move to a more mobile and dynamic workforce.”

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