PRINCE CLEM IKANADE AGBA CLOSES CAPACITY BUILDING TRAINING FOR SPECIAL ASSISTANTS AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANTS OF THE MINISTERS OF THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA

CLOSING REMARKS DELIVERED BY PRINCE CLEM IKANADE AGBA, HONOURABLE MINISTER OF STATE FOR BUDGET AND NATIONAL PLANNING AT THE CAPACITY BUILDING PROGRAMME FOR AIDES OF MINISTERS OF THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA AT THE FRASER SUITES, ABUJA ON TUESDAY, 31^ST AUGUST, 2021

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It gives me great pleasure to address you as we bring this capacity building programme to a close. I appreciate the engagement and candour that you all have contributed to this programme.

2. Allow me to convey special thanks and appreciation to the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung (KAS) for funding and co-organizing this training programme with us. You are indeed a worthy ally.
3. I would like to specially appreciate the resource persons for sharing important knowledge with the participants on the topics which were all carefully chosen. I am certain that the takeaways from this programme will further deepen the thinking of participants and stimulate your work as you continue to contribute your quota towards the growth and development of our country.

I thank all the participants who attended the training, raised pertinent questions and shared experiences on enhancing national development. Indeed, I have heard a lot of good feedback from the programme.

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4. This training covered a wide range of topics from the critical features of the new National Development Plan 2021 – 2025, including the strategic framework for the plan, an overview of the sector strategy and policy thrust as well as the implementation framework. It showcased a wide range of lessons from previous National Development Plans underpinning His Excellency President Muhammadu Buhari’s resolve to make the plan a truly national plan with the involvement of critical stakeholders in a rare adoption of a participatory planning model by a Nigerian leader.
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6. I also understand that there were intense discussions on some issues such as leadership and planning trends in Nigeria as well as the critical role of strong and effective leadership in good governance. As the Ministry that is saddled with the responsibility of monitoring and evaluating programmes and initiatives relating to budget and national strategic plan implementation, I feel happy that this capacity building programme dwelt extensively on discussions around planning management and monitoring systems, measuring and monitoring project performance, barriers to performance management and how to overcome them, including the principles of result-based management. I do agree with the consensus that each infrastructure project proposal should have built-in required capacity needed to ensure its success.
7. I also understand that one area that resonated in your discussions was the need to adopt ideal and strategic political communication in our democracy in order to foster understanding between the local, sub-national and the federal levels of governments in Nigeria. This will surely promote exchanges, interactions and conversations between citizens, public officials, political institutions and related entities like the media for overall sustainable national development. The real work starts now as this should represent a new beginning in our concerted efforts to working together towards fulfilling Mr. President’s determination to lifting 100 million Nigerians out of poverty in 10 years.
8. As the keynote speaker at last week’s National Council on Women in Uyo where the critical role of women in national development was x-rayed, I feel happy that gender equality and women empowerment as a tool for sustainable national development was critically dissected during this training, including conflict resolution strategies in the work place.
9. I must again specially mention Dr. Vladimir Kreck, KAS’s Country Representative for his commitment and that of his organization to the growth and development of our country. Like the previous one, this training was also well-planned and very well-executed.
10. In an address by my dear sister and the Hon Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Mrs. (Dr.) Zainab Shamsuna Ahmed on July 19^th, 2020, to declare open the very first capacity building programme for Ministerial Aides, she highlighted the important supportive roles you all play as Special Advisers and Technical Assistants to your respective Ministers in the design and implementation of policies and plans of government aimed at ensuring an inclusive, sustainable and resilient economy, in line with Government’s priorities.
11. As I said on that occasion, I am convinced that the training this time too provided you a platform to learn, update and further entrench requisite skills, knowledge and attitudes for improved performances which will translate into good governance, peace and development of our country. I am also assured that you utilized the opportunity created by the training to exchange information, ideas and experiences among yourselves as well as engaged in networking to build friendships that will be useful in many years to come.
12. It is now my honour and exceptional privilege to declare the Training and Capacity building programme for Special Advisers and Technical Assistants of Ministers of the Federal Republic of Nigeria held from August 23rd to 31st, 2021 in Abuja closed.
13. Thank you for your attention.