Odimmegwa Johnpeter/Abuja
The First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu, has urged civil servants across the country to embrace innovation, digital skills, and continuous professional development to remain relevant in a rapidly evolving global environment.
She made the call on Thursday at the 2026 International Civil Service Conference in Abuja, where she also advocated early leadership mentorship and stronger inclusion for women in the Federal Civil Service.
The conference, convened under the theme, “Reforms, Resilience and Resolve,” featured the launch of the Inclusive Network for Supporting Progressive Leadership, Innovation, Reforms and Equity for Women (INSPIRE).
Speaking at the event, the First Lady commended the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs. Didi Walson-Jack, for her commitment to strengthening the Nigerian public service through purposeful reforms and inclusive leadership initiatives.
Mrs Tinubu described INSPIRE as a strategic platform aimed at promoting fairness, workplace participation, professional growth, and efficiency within the civil service.
According to her, women continue to play significant roles across the public sector as administrators, professionals, technical officers, managers, and leaders, often discharging their duties with discipline, dignity, and dedication.
While acknowledging the progress made in advancing women’s participation in governance, she stressed the need for deeper inclusion and more opportunities for women to contribute to decision-making and influence institutional outcomes.
“I am pleased to learn that this initiative is designed to reach women across different levels of the civil service, from junior officers to executive level. This is most important because leadership development should not begin only when a woman becomes a Permanent Secretary,” she said.
“It must begin early. A young officer who is properly mentored today may become the Permanent Secretary, Head of Service, Minister, or a national leader tomorrow.”
The First Lady linked women’s empowerment to stronger institutions and improved governance, noting that the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu prioritises inclusion, productivity, economic growth, and national transformation.
“When women are empowered, institutions become stronger, governance improves, and citizens benefit from better service delivery,” she stated.
Mrs Tinubu encouraged female civil servants to pursue excellence, invest in personal growth, embrace innovation and digital skills, support one another, and remain committed to integrity and diligence in service delivery.
She also called on male officers within the public service to continue supporting efforts aimed at promoting fairness, respect, and equal opportunity in the workplace.
The First Lady further noted that the success of the INSPIRE initiative would not be measured by its launch alone but by its long-term impact on leadership development, institutional reforms, and public sector transformation.
“Our nation needs institutions that can think, adapt, innovate, and compete globally,” she said, urging stakeholders and development partners to support the initiative.
Mrs Tinubu formally launched INSPIRE at the event and commended the support of development partners, including UN Women, for promoting inclusion and better governance within public institutions.
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