Former Head of Service and Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development in Ekiti State, Hon. Mrs Olapeju Babafemi, has charged senior officers in the state public service to embrace transformational leadership as a catalyst for improved performance and effective service delivery to the people.
Babafemi gave the charge while delivering a lecture titled “Transformational Leadership for Better Public Service Delivery” at a two-day training programme for substantive Directors and Deputy Directors in the Ekiti State Public Service.
She described leadership at the top management level as critical to translating government policies, programmes and reforms into tangible outcomes that improve the lives of citizens.
According to her, while policies, budgets and institutional structures are important, it is the quality of leadership within the Civil Service that ultimately brings them to life.
“Service delivery is where government promises meet the lived experience of the people,” she said, stressing that senior civil servants must therefore see themselves not merely as custodians of processes but as strategic drivers of development.
Babafemi defined leadership as the ability to guide, inspire and empower people towards a shared goal, distinguishing it from management, which primarily focuses on maintaining systems and ensuring that processes run effectively.
She urged the participants to combine sound management with visionary leadership, noting that effective public servants must be capable of managing today's responsibilities while providing direction for tomorrow.
The former Head of Service explained that transformational leadership involves communicating a compelling vision that gives staff a sense of purpose and pride in their work; encouraging innovation and challenging outdated practices; mentoring and supporting staff as individuals; and, most importantly, leading by example.
While acknowledging that the public service is inherently transactional and governed by rules and procedures, she emphasised the need to add a transformational dimension that inspires ownership, creativity, commitment and higher performance.
On the relevance of transformational leadership to Ekiti State, Babafemi said it was essential for building public trust, promoting innovation and strengthening succession planning by deliberately developing the next generation of public service leaders.
She identified some of the major barriers to effective service delivery as adherence to outdated procedures, poor collaboration among Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), inadequate use of data and technology, weak feedback mechanisms, fear-based supervision and gaps in mentoring.
To build and sustain a culture of transformational leadership, she recommended practical measures including translating ministry mandates into clear and simple service standards, holding regular and purpose-driven meetings, tracking milestones and results, recognising outstanding performance, delegating responsibilities, mentoring emerging leaders, creating safe channels for ideas and feedback, and promoting transparency and merit in appointments.
Babafemi emphasised the strategic importance of officers on Grade Levels 15 and 16, describing them as the “engine room of change” in the public service.
She charged them to champion government reforms, build teams founded on shared ownership and accountability, and model the professionalism, integrity and work ethic they expect from their subordinates.
The former Head of Service also cited the administration of Governor Biodun Oyebanji as an example of transformational leadership in action, highlighting its emphasis on fiscal discipline, the settlement of salary and pension arrears, political inclusivity and the implementation of a clear six-point governance agenda.
In her concluding remarks, Babafemi stressed that improved public service delivery would not be achieved through new structures alone, but through leaders who make a conscious daily choice to lead with vision, integrity, innovation and genuine concern for both staff and citizens.
She challenged each participant to identify and implement at least two practical leadership actions within 30 days and to hold themselves accountable for measurable results.
The lecture was followed by reflection sessions during which participants examined practical ways of applying transformational leadership principles to challenges within their respective MDAs.
The second day of the training featured an interactive panel session involving Mrs Olapeju Babafemi, former Head of Service; Barrister Bamidele Agbede, former Head of Service; Mrs Bukola Ogunlade, Permanent Secretary, Civil Service Commission; and Mrs Janet Ajibola, Permanent Secretary, Establishments and Training.
Participants used the session to raise questions on practical leadership and service-delivery challenges in their various MDAs, while the panellists shared insights and experiences drawn from their years of service and leadership in the Ekiti State Public Service.
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