Cross River State Government Organize's a 2 Day Workshop on Training Needs, Facilitations and Learning Assessment for Departmental Training Officers in State Civil/Public Service

Iloke Egbe - MET&P

The Cross River State Government through the Ministry of Establishments, Training and Pensions has organized a 2 day Training on Training Needs, Facilitations and Learning Assessment for Departmental Training in the State Civil/ Public Service held at Gomays Plaza Hotels, 90 Atekong Drive, Calabar.

Declaring the Workshop open, the Secretary to the Government of Cross River State Prof. Anthony Owan Enoh acknowledged that the Civil Service is a very critical institution and Civil Servants are the backbone of development. He charged participants to take the workshop very serious as a time of reckoning will come when diligent Staff will be recommended for higher responsibilities. According to the SGS, Senator Prince Bassey Edet Otu places premium on the people's first mantra.

In her remarks, the Commissioner, Ministry of Establishments, Training and Pensions and host, Hon. Mrs. Lawrencia E. Ita informed that, the training is to rejuvenate and reposition the State Civil/Public Service to regain its lost Glory and also to respond to the changing needs which are essential to equip Staff with necessary skills and knowledge.

According to Mrs. Ita, Departmental Training Officers are at the heart of capacity building as they play a crucial role in enhancing Staff capacity and improve performance to drive Organization's  success in their respective Ministries, Departments and Agencies. She charged the DTOs to identify training needs and design effective learning Programmes, evaluate training outcomes as they impact on efficiency and productivity of the service. While acknowledging that designing and delivering effective training Programmes can be challenging, the Commissioner reiterated the importance of the workshop which seeks to equip the DTOs with the knowledge and skills to assist them perform their functions.

In his welcome remarks, the Chairman of the occasion and VC/CEO, Cross River State Planning Commission, Pastor Dr. Bong Duke affirmed that human capital development remains the cornerstone of the present administration. The Governor, he emphasized, is totally committed to the strategic revitalization of the Civil Service to regain its pride of place. He added that the workshop is designed to identify areas of training needs and to technically provide a structure that will enhance routine training and also provide a robust framework for learning and sharing of knowledge.

Some of the topics discussed were, Basic functions of Departmental Training Officers, Development and Analyzing of a Training Plan/ Training Policy, System Approach to Training, Organizational Training Gaps/ Writing of Training Objectives, Managing difficult participants, Programme and Module Design/ Facilitations Designs, Psychology of Adult Learning, Learning Assessment/ Evaluation, Job and Organization Analysis.

Highlights of the training workshop included, goodwill messages by the Head of Service, Obol Dr. Innocent Eteng and the State Accountant-General, Dr. Mrs. Glory T. Effiong. A 7- man Communique drafting Committee headed by Mrs  Ekanem Okpa from Office of Auditor-General of the State, was constituted while the Resource persons included, Elder Chief Bassey Offiong Kooffreh,  Mr. Emmanuel Ogar Etta and Elder Egu Omini all retired Permanent Secretaries.

Dignitaries in attendance were; the Permanent Secretary Ministry of Establishments, Training and Pensions, Barr. Peter S. Bisong, the Permanent Secretary Ministry of Wealth Creation and Employment, Mrs. Gertrude Odu, Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Establishment Matters, Dr. Mrs. Victoria Eyong and heads of training in the various MDAs in the State.