As part of strategies to continually enhance effective service delivery within the Public-Private Partnership Ecosystem in Lagos State, the Office of the Public Private Partnership has met with stakeholders on how to foster human capital development, boost a friendlier business environment within government Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDA’s). 

The Special Adviser to the State Governor on PPP, Mr. Ope George while speaking at the Y2022 PPP Ambassadors’ Workshop held recently, said that the gathering provides an avenue for the Office to activate a seamless skill transfer process for the participants. 

He stated that the theme for the workshop: “The Science of PPP Process, Policy, Legal and Institutional Frameworks”, could not have been more pertinent in creating a holistic learning experience for everyone. 

The Science of PPP Process, Policy, Legal and Institutional Frameworks, according to him, underscores the need to understand PPP Philosophy, Project Negotiation dynamics, Project Initiation, Evaluation, Execution and Dispute Management mechanisms among others. 

He expressed confidence in the ability of the facilitators at the workshop to give the participants the much-needed intellectual flavour critical to creating sustainable PPPs in Lagos State.

On the efforts of the PPP Office to cascade its operations to all other government MDAs, the Special Adviser disclosed that the Office invited two Ambassadors each from all the key MDAs to the workshop for induction as Knowledge Anchors and  PPP Liaison Officers in their various establishments. 

The essence of this, he said, is to begin to build ‘Talent Specialisation and PPP Competencies’ beyond the borders of the Office of PPP and also to create peer educators for other members of staff in the various Ministries, Departments and Agencies of Government. 

His words: “Permit me to emphasise the fact that the workshop will energise a new cadre of PPP Champions across the Lagos State Civil Service, such that Private Investors and PPP Stakeholders can receive faster and well-tailored standardised services devoid of red tapes and other forms of impediments”.

George explained that the essence of having PPP Ambassadors located in the MDAs is for the Ambassadors to act as representatives of the PPP Office and protect the interests of the Office in their various MDAs, saying that the Ambassadors are the extension of PPP in their different offices. 

The Special Adviser, therefore, affirmed that Lagos State Government is blessed with a highly resourceful workforce and this explains the decision of the PPP Office to leverage the abilities of these government officials in the various MDAs to always engage interested members of the private sector willing to embrace the PPP initiative of the government.

The facilitators at the workshop include the Director-General, Lagos State Public Procurement Agency (PPA), Mr. Fatai Onafowote; Managing Director of Vista Advisory Partnership Limited, Mr. Sunloye Adekanye; Managing Partner of the New Practice, Mr. Baba Alokolaro and Senior Vice President of Stanbic IBTC Infrastructure Fund, Mr. Rotimi Teteye.