From the campaign grounds, across the length and breath of Anambra State, Governor Chukwuma Soludo stated point blank that he was ready to hit the ground running from day one. The Governor has demonstrated commitment to the Anambra cause since he assumed office, right from the inauguration venue.

 

Hermann Hesse, the German-Swiss writer and painter, once opined that ‘some of us think holding on makes us strong; but sometimes it is letting go’. The quote succinctly demonstrates what happened at the two-day retreat organized by the Governor Soludo-led administration, to ‘let go’ of certain weights in anticipation of the tasks ahead.

 

 

The retreat, which came less than two weeks after the commissioners were inaugurated, was specifically designed for Commissioners, Special Advisers, Permanent Secretaries and key appointees, to enable them key into the policy thrust of building a greater Anambra in line with the Soludo mantra.

 

 

 

One of the major reasons for organizing the capacity building programme amongst others, was to foster and build team work and unity of purpose among administrators that would be taking decisions in the ministries, departments and agencies of government. It was also aimed at equipping some of the cabinet members without prior public service backgrounds, with the rules and knowledge of public offices.

 

 

 

Governor Soludo had explained that the retreat was designed to build the team, armed with the vision and plan, emphasizing that alignment was of utmost importance to better understand the work environment. The Governor also stated that the capacity building program was designed to make participants benefit from other’s experiences.

 

 

It was a hybrid event as facilitators physically and virtually interfaced with participants. Nigeria’s Minister of Road, Power and Housing, Mr Babatunde Fashola, the Director General of Budget Office, Nigeria, Dr Ben Akabueze, a Former Corps Marshal of the Federal Road Safety Corps and erstwhile Minister of Aviation, Chief Osita Chidoka, the Director General, Nigeria Governor’s Forum, A.B. Okauru, among others, drilled participants on select topics in view of the anticipated disruptive reforms.

 

 

Mr Fashola lent his wealth of experience as a former Governor of Lagos State who led mind-blowing public sector reforms in the centre of excellence. In his insightful engagement with the Solution Team on the day one of the retreat, Dr Akabueze, one of Anambra’s human capital export, first to Lagos, and later to the Nigerian federation, who joined virtually, spoke on issues around important leverages for subnationals with a clear focus on Anambra.

 

 

 

Chief Osita Chidoka gave a detailed exposẹ́ on “Measuring Time and Performance”, drawing from his experience in public service, as the Corps Marshal and Chief Executive of FRSC. His presentation had a historical depth and was evidence driven.

 

 

 

The second day of the retreat started strongly with the first focal point on electronic governance; to leverage technology in governance of the state. A panel comprising representatives from two of Nigeria’s leading telecom gaints — Globacom and MTN also led discussions on the subject matter, examining the prospects of deploying technological solutions in the governance of Anambra State, bearing the goal of the ‘smart mega Anambra’ in mind.

 

 

 

In some other insightful engagements, some members of the Seventh Anambra State House of Assembly, led by the Speaker, Right Honourable Uchenna Okafor led discussions on ‘Executive-Legislature Relationship: Budgeting and Oversight’. Right Honorable Okafor outlined the key functions of the legislature, explained procedures involved in them and linked the functions to the legislature’s daily routine, governance-wise.

 

 

 

He added that for the Executive and the Legislature to maintain progressive relationship to ensure a prosperous and liveable homeland, there must be checks and balances with helpful information from various Ministries, Departments and Agencies, usually made available on request by the various House Committees during oversight functions.

 

 

 

One impressive thing about a retreat is that it is a time away. A strategic withdrawal in the face of overwhelming force. It is a way to save the troops or the team to fight another day, to gird and re-enter the fray.

 

Such retreat-drill should be periodic, even beyond the Executive Council level, if the goal of making the vision of the present government a household name would be wholesomely achieved.

 

 

Hopefully, the impact of this first Executive Council Retreat has prepared the minds of participants on the tasks ahead. As the Soludo Solution Team, it is expected that they go down to their respective Ministries, Departments and Agencies and implement the garnered solutions.