On October 10th, 2024, public sector leaders from various organizations gathered at Kristina Jade Learning Center for a seminar hosted by Oak Interlink Company Limited. The free event, titled “Critical Thinking for Leaders in Public Sector,” aimed to arm participants with essential problem-solving skills needed in today’s dynamic governance landscape. With growing challenges facing public institutions, the need for strategic thinking and decisive leadership has never been more crucial.
Led by Chris Akwue, an expert in leadership development, the seminar struck a chord with attendees as they delved into the intricacies of critical thinking. From defining what it means to think critically in a high-stakes environment to applying structured approaches to making decisions, the seminar approached a variety of pressing issues faced by public service professionals.
Participants represented several key government agencies, including:
- Ministry of Information and Strategy
- Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources
- Lagos State Real Estate Regulatory Authority
- Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources
- Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development
- Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA)
Leaders in the public sector often face situations where decisions need to be made swiftly, yet thoughtfully. The goal of this training was to give them the tools to evaluate these complex situations and respond not just quickly, but effectively.
This training covered various facets of the same, namely problem-solving collaboratively, cases from real-life situations, and techniques to stimulate critical thinking in teams. During the seminar, the participants deliberated on various aspects through active discussion, sharing insights and examples from their own experiences in government agencies.
One of the attendees, Omotosho Saheed, the Director Admin and HR at the Lagos State Real Estate Regulatory Authority, praised the seminar for its relevance. “This training achieved it’s purpose,” he noted. “I believe the full class will be more engaging and impactful.”
That sentiment was echoed by Oretan Adenike Ayodele, the Assistant Director at the Lagos State Ministry of Agriculture and Food Systems and Obipehin Adekunle, the Director at the Lagos State Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development, who rated the training highly for how it aided their understanding of key concepts and believed it would help improve their skills in their jobs. During this training, they learned how to bring together different viewpoints, sift through information efficiently, and make informed decisions as a team.
The seminar didn’t just focus on theory. Attendees were challenged to apply their learning in real-time through case studies that mirrored the real-world issues they face. These cases sparked meaningful debate among participants.
For Oshodi Jubril Adeyemi, the Director, Logistics and Engineering at the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority this hands-on approach was invaluable. “The training provides an expanded scope of learning and understanding the requirements for effective leadership with business and project oriented mindset,” he said. “It created an expose into real time problem solving skills and processes.”
Participants like Akinpelu Ayuba, the Director Human Capacity, Development and Specialized Training, at Lagos State Traffic Management Authority went on to praise the facilitator who he called, “…fluent and understandable,” and Omotayo Kazeem, Deputy Director, Lagos State Ministry of Commerce, Cooperative Trade and Investment praised the staff by calling them polite and also noted that the environment at Kristina Jade Learning Center was “conducive”
Beyond the discussions and case studies, the seminar provided an opportunity for participants to network with like-minded professionals. As it drew to a close, it was clear that Oak Interlink had successfully created a space for learning, reflection, and professional growth.
For Oak Interlink, the event marked another milestone in its ongoing mission to deliver top-tier training programs to leaders in both public and private sectors. As the company prepares for its next series of training events, the takeaway from this seminar is clear: Critical thinking is more than just a skill—it’s a necessity for effective leadership in the public sector. The attendees left with a renewed sense of responsibility, armed with tools to navigate the complexities of governance in a changing world.
