The Edo State Head of Service, Dr. Anthony Okungbowa, has announced that proceeds from his recently published book will serve as seed funding for the proposed Digital Public Service Library, a knowledge hub and learning platform for civil and public servants across the state.
Dr. Okungbowa disclosed this at the commencement of his visitation tour across Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) in the state, aimed at deepening the implementation of the Edo State Public Service Retooling and Enhancement Programme (Edo-PREP).
Speaking on the initiative, the Head of Service said the digital library would promote innovation and knowledge-sharing within the public service, saying “We want to create an environment where innovation is not only encouraged but also celebrated. Officers who conceive ideas that improve service delivery or promote cost-saving, transparency, and efficiency will no longer go unnoticed”.
During his visit to the Ministry of Physical Planning, Housing, Urban and Regional Development, and the Edo State Development and Building Control Agency, Dr. Okungbowa explained that the exercise was designed to acquaint officers with the Edo-PREP reform framework — an initiative focused on strengthening leadership-staff engagement and entrenching professionalism in the Service.
He revealed that Edo-PREP comprises 35 reform modules, each led by a Permanent Secretary or Head of Agency, to ensure full ownership and effective implementation. According to him, the establishment of a Bureau of Reforms — the first of its kind in any state civil service — will institutionalize and sustain ongoing reform efforts beyond the current administration.
“In the past, reforms often ended with an administration because there was no structure to sustain them. The Bureau of Public Service Reforms will ensure continuity and harness the ideas of everyone in the system. Reform is not a one-off process; it must be continuous. The world is changing rapidly, particularly in technology, and we must evolve with it so that the Service does not become obsolete”, he explained.
Dr. Okungbowa also announced plans to establish a State-Local Government Joint Service Council to bridge gaps between the two tiers of government and promote coordinated development, adding “This structure will help maintain uniform growth, strengthen collaboration, and prevent disconnection in our collective reform efforts”.
Highlighting the inclusion of a mentorship framework and a wellness and fitness module under Edo-PREP, he emphasized the importance of leadership development and staff wellbeing.
“If we must grow as a Service, we must recognize that success without a successor is failure. Mentorship is therefore not optional — it is critical. Good service delivery can only come from a healthy workforce. We are prioritizing emotional intelligence, mental health, and overall wellbeing. A happy, healthy officer is a productive officer”, he added.
