The ongoing three-day intensive training for Kogi State public officials featured a high-impact paper presentation titled “Leadership Agility in Practice: Leading Change in a Bureaucratic Environment delivered by renowned leadership expert, Dr. Ezekiel Gomos, MON.
The presentation set the tone for the future of governance in Kogi State, emphasising the urgent need for leadership agility as the foundational competency for effective reform and public service delivery.
Speaking to participants, Dr. Gomos highlighted that the Kogi State public service is at a crucial turning point. Traditional rigid bureaucratic methods are no longer sufficient to meet the demands of a rapidly evolving governance.
He stressed that leadership agility, the ability to anticipate change, respond swiftly, and continuously learn, must now form the core basis of public service delivery as the State positions itself for sustainable development and policy innovation.
Dr. Gomos explained that leadership is fundamentally about influence, nothing more, and nothing less. The ability to shape the perceptions, attitudes, motivations, and behaviours of followers toward a common goal.
He noted that, “An officeholder is not automatically a leader. A true leader is one whom people want to follow not one they are compelled to obey.”
He added that agile leaders must combine strategic vision, operational efficiency, and empathetic people management to navigate complex environments effectively.
Highlighting the importance of agility for Kogi State, Dr. Gomos said it enables public officials to respond promptly to rapid changes, coordinate cross-agency efforts during crises, and foster innovation and continuous learning to tackle challenges such as infrastructure gaps, insecurity, and evolving citizen expectations. By simplifying processes and designing smarter systems, leaders can ensure more transparent, efficient, and citizen-focused service delivery.
He encouraged public officials to adopt new mindsets, operational behaviours, and collaborative approaches, moving away from centralized and reactive decision-making. Dr. Gomos commended the Kogi State Government for prioritising capacity-building initiatives, noting that the training demonstrates a strong commitment to strengthening institutional effectiveness in line with the 32-Year Development Plan.
Princess Funsho Sumanu
Public Relations Officer
Ministry of Finance, Budget and Economic Planning.
