"No ICT, No Future"- HOS Tasks Workers on Etiquette, Digital Skills for Soludo’s Silicon Valley Dream

The push for a smarter Anambra Civil Service gained momentum on Tuesday as the State Head of Service, Ngozi Anuli Iwouno, Esq, mni told Administrative officets that digital competence and workplace etiquette are now non negotiable.

Speaking during the ongoing Anambra Human Resource Development Week at the Jerome Udoji Secretariat, Iwouno said the training aims to make workers digitally competent, technically compliant to fit into Governor Chukwuma Soludo’s vision of a Dubai-Taiwan-Silicon Valley for the state.

The HOS delivered a hands on talk on workplace etiquette, insisting that excellent service delivery begins with simple courtesies. “The baseline is saying good morning with a smile, not wearing an aggressive face,” she told participants. “The way you receive visitors can psychologically solve half their problem before you even treat their files.” HOS added.

She warned that responding to visitors with aggression amounts to misconduct. "Be the point of contact for someone’s solution,” the HOS stressed.

Tying the training to the administration’s broader agenda, she noted: “In line with the Governor’s vision, we want the civil service repositioned to a smart 21st century civil service. We don’t want to be left behind. That is why we are starting from the basics to reposition ourselves for an excellent smart service delivery.”

She was blunt on technology: “I urge us all to improve on your ICT skills, because without competent ICT skill, we will become obsolete. Our goal is excellent service delivery for Ndi Anambra.”

Lending her voice, the Permanent Secretary, Office of the Head of Service, Mrs. Nkiru Jessie Nwankwo, Esq., urged staff to embrace truthfulness and maintain a smile while attending to the public.

Also contributing, Dr. Obiageli Uchebo, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, and Mr. Jerome Ilokwu, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Culture, Entertainment and Tourism also spoke on discipline. They charged Administrative Officers to prioritize punctuality, manage their time well and shun indecent dressing. " You must lead by example and be the standard others emulate if you want to correct them effectively," Dr. Uchebo noted.

The HR Development Week, which kicked off May 26, is training admin officers, confidential secretaries and clerical officers across MDAs on digital compliance, ethics among many other things.

MaryAnn Chukwuma writes from the Office of the Head of Service, Anambra State.