“Anyone who stops learning is old, whether at twenty or eighty. Anyone who keeps learning stays young.” — Henry Ford
“Leadership and learning are indispensable to each other.” — John F. Kennedy
John F Kennedy and Henry Ford are both renowned personalities in the history of America. While the former was a former President of America, the latter was an industrialist and business magnate.
John Fitzgerald Kennedy often referred to by his initials JFK, was an American politician who served as the 35th President of the United States of America from 1961 until his assassination in 1963. He was the youngest person to assume the presidency by election and the youngest president at the end of his tenure.
Henry Ford on the other hand, was an American industrialist and business magnate. He was the founder of Ford Motor Company, and chief developer of the assembly line technique of mass production. Ford created the first automobile that middle-class Americans could afford, and his conversion of the automobile from an expensive luxury into an accessible conveyance profoundly impacted the landscape of the 20th century.
Both American nationalists had one thing in common and that is evident in their leadership style and their commitments to human capital development; training and retraining of personnel.
To both personalities, learning should be a regular process as, according to them, in their separate quotes; “Anyone who stops learning is old, whether at twenty or eighty. Anyone who keeps learning stays young.” — Henry Ford
And, “Leadership and learning are indispensable to each other.” — John F. Kennedy
To say that they understood the import of training and retraining as necessary parameter in enhancing individual and corporate efficiency is indeed, stating the obvious.
To drive success in contemporary workplace, regular training and retraining programs are indeed, relevant. This is so because; training and retraining programs help develop and improve essential skills and can be required for industry regulations, new policies and technological changes within the system.
No matter the reason for retraining, however, up-skilling is an integral component in successful workplaces in contemporary times.
This, no doubt, may have informed the regular retreats embarked upon by the current leadership of the Delta State House of Assembly.
Inaugurated barely two years ago, precisely June 13, 2023, the Rt. Hon. Emomotimi Guwor led administration has so far, engaged both the lawmakers, their support staff (Aides) as well as staff of the Assembly in series of separate retreats.
In the lot, the State Assembly, recently organised a two-day workshop for top management staff of the State legislature coming barely few months after a similar one was held.
Commenting on the development, the Speaker of the State Assembly Rt. Hon. Emomotimi Guwor, reaffirmed the Assembly’s commitment towards enhancing the capacity of its workforce through uncompromised training and re-training.
According to him, the 8th Assembly under his leadership would not renege on the vision stressing that previous retreats already organised by the leadership of the Eight Assembly under his watch for various cadres of the Assembly workforce, have been yielding the requisite positive results.
To this end, the speaker assured that the Eight Assembly under his leadership, would not renege on the ongoing policy of consistent and regular training and re-training of staff of the State legislature
He said, “This retreat is timely, and it is the second management retreat under the leadership of the 8th Assembly.
“This time around, the leadership of the House collaborated with the National Institute For Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS), a foremost institute solely committed to offer support and training services for the growth and development of the Legislature.
“The 8th Assembly places high premiums on a workforce with cutting-edge skills. Our Mission Statement and Vision are very clear on this fact.
“Our Mission is “to build a vibrant, proactive and responsive Legislature that guarantees sustainable development.” While our Vision is “ to be a leading Legislature that drives the socio-economic development of Delta State through innovative and effective legislative interventions.”
“These can only be achieved where you have knowledgeable, skilled and highly committed bureaucracy.
“I make bold to state that this deliberate policy of the Delta State House of Assembly to continuously build the capacity of staff has yielded a lot of positive impact in the House.
“I am delighted to let you know that few weeks ago, the Governor of Delta State, Rt.Hon. (Elder) Sheriff F. O Oborevwori, assented to seven transformative Bills passed into law by the House. This indeed is a very remarkable feat and a pointer to the fact that our efforts and the resources expended so far on capacity building have not been wasted but worthwhile” Rt. Hon Guwor said.
In his address of welcome at the event held in Asaba, the State capital, Clerk of the State Assembly, Mr. Otto Aghoghophia commended the Speaker, Rt. Hon Emomotimi Guwor for what he described as his consistent and committed approval for the training and re-training of staff of the State Assembly.
Underscoring the import of the retreat with the theme, “Parliamentary Administration And Management for Effective And Efficient Service Delivery.”, Aghoghophia said that the retreat would afford participants the opportunity to address issues bothering them; top management staff of the State Assembly.
Apparently impressed with the turnout of the workshop, the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Emomotimi Guwor at the end of the two-day training workshop, expressed optimism that the capacity building retreat for top management staff of the Assembly will impact positively in the bureaucracy of the State Legislature.
Represented by the Deputy Speaker, Rt Hon Arthur Akpowovwo, Guwor expressed delight at the conclusion of the training programme, disclosing that the exercise was a fulfilment of promise earlier made by the leadership of the house.
He reiterated that the 8th Assembly of the Delta State Assembly will continue to prioritize capacity building for staff so as to improve their knowledge for maximum service delivery.
He said, “The aim of this retreat was to reposition and strengthen the management of the House. I was reliably informed that at the technical sessions, a broad horizon of ideas of managerial skills were unveiled by the resource persons. I enjoy you to put what you have learnt into effective and efficient service in the House”.
While congratulating the participants for successfully completing the retreat, the Speaker urged them to always remember the valuable knowledge gained and lessons learnt in the retreat, adding that when positively applied, it would result in a paradigm shift in management approach to work.
Guwor thanked the resource persons from National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies, NILDS for imparting the participants with requisite knowledge to improve their legislative duties.
“I am very pleased that the retreat has come to a successful conclusion. I am sure the retreat was very enriching and insightful. Let me at this juncture thank each and every one of you for your active and valuable participation.
“I wish to also express my profound appreciation to the Director General of the National Institute For Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS), and indeed the resource persons for their eloquent and detailed presentation.
“it is my earnest belief that this management retreat has achieved its desired objectives and that as you return to the office, always remember the valuable knowledge gained and the lessons learnt in this retreat. Hopefully, I trust that the outcome of the retreat will dovetail into a paradigm shift in the management approach to work”, Guwor emphasized.
Responding on behalf of himself and other participants, Mr Penn Ogheneraboken commended the leadership of the 8th Assembly for graciously approving the retreat for management staff and other categories of staff of the State Assembly.
He said “On behalf of management staff, we want to express our immense gratitude to the Speaker, Rt. Hon Emomotimi Guwor and the entire Leadership of the 8th Assembly for granting us this opportunity to be better equipped in our duties as management staff of the Delta State House of Assembly”
“It has been a wonderful experience for us these two days and we are more enlightened and informed on the various bureaucratic processes of legislative duties”.
The retreat which featured various lectures was climaxed with presentation of certificates to participants.
