ASCON Boss Advocates Strategic Engagement, Mindset Shift For Effective Change In Public Service
By Sulaimon Salau
The Director-General of the Administrative Staff College of Nigeria (ASCON), Mrs. Funke Adepoju, has called on public servants across the country to embrace intentional leadership, strategic stakeholder engagement, and value-driven lobbying to drive effective and sustainable change in the Nigerian public service.
Adepoju made this call while speaking as a panelist at the Agenda 2025 Alumni Upskilling Programme, hosted by the Aig-Imoukhuede Foundation, held in Lagos at the weekend.
The session, titled “Change Management in the Public Service – The Role of Stakeholder Engagement, Negotiations, and Lobbying,” focused on how public sector leaders can manage resistance, promote reforms, and influence governance outcomes through collaborative and transparent approaches.
Describing the public service as “the engine room of government,”
Adepoju emphasized that change is both a transition and a transformation, which must begin with the mindsets and attitudes of people.
“If we remain where we are, then there is a problem,” she warned.
“Change doesn’t happen in a vacuum, it requires strategic negotiation, clear communication, and genuine public interest.”
Adepoju shared a real-life example of how she navigated and resolved a long-standing regulatory challenge involving a multinational bottling company. By engaging stakeholders for over six months, focusing on public health and sustainability, and presenting clear data on the environmental risks of unregulated abstraction, she was able to achieve compliance without conflict.
“Lobbying is not manipulation; it is a legitimate tool for public sector reform when driven by facts and aligned with the greater good,” she said.
Strategic Engagement Framework
The ASCON DG proposed a practical framework for stakeholder engagement using the 5Ws and 2Hs approach: What, Why, When, Where, Who, How and How much.
She noted that this structure enables targeted communication, ensures alignment of interests, and fosters collective responsibility.
Preparing Public Servants for the Future
Adepoju listed six priorities for public servants in a future-ready public service: Digital Transformation & Literacy; Collaborative Governance; Policy Alignment with Government Vision; Inclusive and Participatory Leadership; Attitudinal Shift Among Leaders; and Readiness for Artificial Intelligence Integration.
The Aig-Imoukhuede Foundation’s Agenda 2025 initiative aims to build a new generation of public sector leaders equipped with tools for governance innovation and institutional reform.
