Public Service Will Drive Nigeria’s Global Innovation Index, Says HoS

Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja

The Head of Civil Service (HoS) of the Federation, Dr Folasade Yemi-Esan, has said an effective and sustainable collaboration between public, private sectors and development partners will significantly contribute to improving Nigeria’s ranking in the Global Innovation Index of 109th among the 132 economies featured in the 2023 rankings.

She expressed the optimism in her keynote address at the award ceremony of the 4^th edition of the annual Federal Civil Service Innovation Competition held in Abuja.

The HoS noted that innovation has not only traversed all eras of human existence but has remained the catalyst of civilization, adding that innovation was about identifying problems, stirring up creativity and engaging in divergent thinking to derive solutions to improve the quality of life. 

She also said the notion that civil servants lacked innovation was a misconception they were determined to overturn.

“​Truly, you can bring out the best in civil servants at all levels when they are engaged and provided with the enabling environment to find expression in the work they do. This is why the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation remains committed to sustaining and strengthening the structures established to drive innovation in the public service which are in line with the policy thrust of the Federal Civil Service Strategy and Implementation Plan 2021-2025 (FCSSIP25),” Yemi-Esan said.

The innovation competition was a platform for civil servants to identify problems in the service and proffer their ingenious solutions.

The total sum of N7.750 million was splashed on 13 civil servants whose entries were shortlisted for the final round out of the 203 submissions received and collated for the innovation ideas.The star prize winner, who innovated a civil service radio station, received N5 million, while the first runner-up carted away N1.7 million and the second runner up received N1 million. Ten other innovators went home with N200,000 each.