The Federal Ministry of Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Affairs hosted a one-day Capacity Building Training for members of its Ministerial Innovation Committee.
The event, held in Abuja, brought together key innovation champions within the Ministry to deepen their understanding and application of innovation practices in governance.
The Permanent Secretary of FMSDIGA, Dr Onwusoro Maduka Ihemelandu welcomed the participants, emphasizing the importance of innovation as the cornerstone of transformation in public service delivery. He stated that the training was designed to equip the committee with the requisite knowledge and skills to implement the objectives of the Federal Civil Service Strategy and Implementation Plan (FCSSIP) 2021–2025.
“We must continuously invest in our capacity, sharpen our thinking, and embrace new and better ways of working,” he urged.
He encouraged participants to engage fully and apply the lessons learned to improve efficiency, creativity, and service delivery within the Ministry.
The Permanent Secretary formally declared the training open, setting the tone for a day of learning and collaboration.
The first lecture was delivered by Mr. Henry Nwaedo, Deputy Director Innovation, Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation. He delivered a paper on Design Thinking and Problem Solving, introduced participants to the core principles of design thinking, including empathy, ideation, prototyping, and testing.
He outlined the five stages of the design thinking process and demonstrated how these could be applied to solve real-world challenges in the public sector.
Mr. Nwaedo highlighted practical tools and techniques, such as user journey mapping and brainstorming frameworks, while addressing the limitations and challenges of design thinking in bureaucratic settings.
The second session, led by Mrs. Felicia Ugoji, Director of Innovation, OHCSF, focused on Innovation Ecosystem and Stakeholder Engagement. She defined an innovation ecosystem as the interconnected network of individuals, institutions, and processes that drive innovation.
Her lecture emphasized building a strong foundation for innovation within the Ministry and underscored the importance of identifying key stakeholders, developing effective engagement strategies, and managing stakeholder relationships to ensure sustained innovation.
Participants learned methods for fostering trust and collaboration among stakeholders to enhance policy impact and service delivery.
In the third lecture titled Partnership and Collaboration: Key to Successful Innovation, Mr. Nwaedo returned to guide participants through the role of collaboration in innovation success. He discussed the importance of strategic partnerships within and beyond government, including public-private collaborations. He elaborated on types of partnerships, elements of successful collaborations such as mutual trust and shared vision, and provided techniques for partnership-building and management.
Additionally, he addressed common challenges and offered practical solutions to sustaining partnerships over time.
The final lecture, again delivered by Mrs. Ugoji, was titled Understanding Innovation and Its Role in Government: Driving Innovation in the Ministry. She offered a comprehensive overview of innovation, including its types—process, product, and policy innovation—and its relevance in the public sector. Mrs. Ugoji presented global and local examples of successful government innovations, emphasizing the benefits such as increased efficiency, improved citizen engagement, and transparency. She concluded by addressing key challenges to innovation in government, such as resistance to change and limited resources, and proposed strategies to overcome them.
The training was a resounding success, arming members of the Ministerial Innovation Committee with practical tools and a clear vision for embedding innovation into daily government operations. The Ministry remains committed to fostering a culture of innovation, collaboration, and continuous improvement, in line with the goals of the FCSSIP 2021–2025.
Signed:
Mandal Francis M.
CIO (Press and Public Relations Unit
