The Hon. Commissioner for Home Affairs, Hon. Olanrewaju Ibrahim Layode has given assurances that the State Government would continue to give utmost priority to training and re-training of its staff in order to keep them abreast of global best practices in service delivery.
He gave this assurances on Tuesday, during the flag-off of a two-day in-house training programme organised by the State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board for its members of staff, at the Shamsi Adisa Thomas (SAT) Mosque Hall, Ikeja. The two-day training ends on Wednesday.
A statement released by the Board’s Public Affairs Officer, Taofeek Lawal, quoted Hon. Layode as saying that the training was in accordance with the THEMES+ Agenda of the State Government.
He stated that it was designed to further enrich the knowledge of the staff, especially the Schedule Officers (Local Government Coordinators) in order to adequately prepare them for the Y2025 Hajj and Umrah operations both in Nigeria and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
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The Commissioner also cautioned the participants against revealing official secret. “I beseech all participants to remember their Oath of Secrecy which bound all officers from revealing official matters without authorization. It is expected of all staff to keep government’s secret, secret”, he said.
Speaking on the central theme of the training ‘Work Ethics/Rudiments of Hajj and Umrah Operations’, Hon. Layode emphasized that the topics were carefully considered to address the various issues and challenges that constantly cropped up during the pilgrimage exercises both in Nigeria and the Holy land.
He expressed his confidence in the ability of the facilitators to deliver on the topics. He said, “I have no doubt that the facilitators, Mr. Muftau Okoya and Mr. Rahman Ishola (both former Board Secretaries) are well grounded to do justice to the topics and adequately prepare our officers for the task ahead”.
While urging the participants to see the training as an avenue to further broaden their knowledge about new trends in Hajj and Umrah administrations, he encouraged them to tap from the wealth of experience of the facilitators who are seasoned administrators in their own rights, with a view to deploying same in their future official assignments.
Hon. Layode used the opportunity to express his sincere gratitude to Mr. Governor Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu and his deputy, Dr. Kadri Obafemi Hamzat for their unflinching support and encouragements during the previous Hajj operations. As the Board commences the 2025 Hajj and Umrah exercises, he expressed optimism that Government would continue to extend its assistance towards ensuring a successful operations.
The facilitators which includes Mr. Rahman Olajuwon Ishola, Director Admin. & Human Resource, Central Business District (CBD) delivered lecture on “Work Ethics/Rudiments of Hajj and Umrah Operations during Day one on Tuesday while Mr. Muftau Adeniyi Okoya, a retired Director, delivered lecture on “Responsibility of Coordinators – Pre and during Hajj operations”, during Day two of the training on Wednesday.
Goodwill messages were given by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Islamic Matters, Dr. Ahmad Abdullahi Jebe; Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs, Mr. Adewunmi Gbolahan Ogunsanya and Board Chairman, Imam (Engr.) Shakiru Ayinde Gafar, represented by Dr. (Mrs.) Faosat Dabiri (Lagos division) while the Board Secretary, Mr. Saheed Onipede gave a welcome address.
Other Government functionaries present at the opening ceremony are Hon. Waheed Lolade Shonibare (Ikeja division); Alh. Yusuf Ara (Epe division) and Secretary, Lagos State Christian Pilgrims Welfare Board, Mrs. Yetunde Gbafe.
