Honourable Commissioner for Commerce, Cooperatives, Trade and Investment (MCCTI), Mrs. Folashade Ambrose-Medebem and members of the MCCTI Family formally welcomed the new Permanent Secretary, Dr. Olugbemiga Ayoola Aina, to the Ministry on Monday.
While welcoming the new Permanent Secretary at a brief reception organised for him at the Conference Room of the MCCTI, the Commissioner expressed delight at the coming of Dr. Aina and assured of her readiness to work with him to deliver on the mandate given to the Ministry by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu.
Her words: “We are a team of very hardworking individuals dedicated to delivering on the Governor’s expectations as expressed in our tagline: “Take Part, Take Pride, and Deliver Excellence”, and the coming of the new Permanent Secretary will be a value addition in our quest to achieve the given mandate.
The Commissioner reflected on the Ministry’s readiness to embrace Dr. Aina’s leadership and vision for a transformative journey ahead, saying the MCCTI team is ready to ensure he makes a success of his tenure.
In his response, the new Permanent Secretary outlined his vision for the future, emphasising on collaboration, innovation, and staff welfare, stressing the importance of managing expectations across the board – from the Political Heads to Public Servants to achieve seamless working relationships.
Dr. Aina emphasised the need for the Ministry to embrace automation and strategic planning, including setting Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) to achieve targets. Innovation, he noted, might bring disruption, but it is a necessary step towards progress that requires an open mindset from all members of the staff.
“Let me underscore the fact that we require a collective effort to script the success story of MCCTI, and I want to emphasise unity and shared responsibility in achieving the Ministry’s goals. We are all on this journey and I want to encourage everyone to stop working in silos and foster a collective and harmonious working environment devoid of animosity or division.
“I also want to highlight the importance of social marketing to enhance the Ministry’s public image and advocate a dynamic, non-toxic work environment that focuses on positive attitudes to meet deliverables”, he stated.
He said he always aspires to leave a lasting legacy everywhere he works because he is a process person and he aims to implement systems that will continue to benefit the Ministry long after his tenure.
“I believe very strongly in welfare, which does not necessarily have to be monetary all the time but I pledge to prioritise the entitlements and benefits of staff, guided by the understanding of the critical role it plays in the overall satisfaction and productivity of the workforce.
“We are embarking on a new beginning, necessitating a change from all of us. Micromanagement is not my method but rather, empowering everyone to contribute their best to achieve the mandate of the Ministry”, he added.