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LAGOS  – As part of concerted efforts to boost staff morale, foster operational excellence, and enjoin improved service delivery, the Lagos Environmental Sanitation Corps (LAGESC), popularly known as KAI, organised a one-day management retreat for senior staff and operatives themed “Leading the Change, Building Collaborations Towards Environmental Safety and Awareness,” which was held at Jubilee Chalets in Epe. 

Major Olaniyi Olatunbosun Cole (Rtd), the Corps Marshal, in his opening remarks, stated, “This retreat is strategically designed to enhance effective and efficient service delivery to our great State, Lagos, in line with the THEMES+ agenda of His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, to make Lagos habitable for business while ensuring constant monitoring of our environs in accordance with global best practices in enforcement techniques.” 

Chairman of the Organising Committee and Deputy Corps Marshal (Administration), Prince Idowu Apena Yisa, highlighted the importance and expected outcomes of the retreat. He noted that the initiative was aimed at strengthening enforcement strategies, enhancing inter-agency collaboration, updating operational tactics, and promoting environmental safety in alignment with the THEMES+ agenda of Babajide Sanwo-Olu for the metropolitan city of Lagos. 

During his presentation titled “Leading the Change for a Reformed and Transformed LAGESC,” Dr. Abimbola Oyarinu delivered a strategic vision session centered on leadership styles. Drawing inspiration from the visionary leadership of Lee Kuan Yew and Nelson Mandela, he urged participants to embrace selfless dedication to service, especially in their dealings with subordinates. He identified the core pillars of effective leadership as vision, integrity, discipline, accountability, and service as attributes that translate into impactful leadership. 

The retreat also featured a strategic planning and brainstorming session, with presentations and reviews from four respective groups. 

The exercise underscored the virtues of teamwork, professionalism, and dedication to service, adding administrative depth to the deliberations. 

Also, the critical role of operational focus was highlighted during a presentation delivered by Dr. Adeyeye Mayowa, Head, Environmental Services Unit of the Agency titled ‘Building Collaborations in Operational Delivery’ where the impeccable impact of collaborative efforts with sister agencies and intelligence gathering were highlighted as catalysts to operational success, just as he commended the Agency’s leadership for laudable efforts in operations and welfare of staff. 

Speaking during her presentation titled, ‘Ensuring Compliance for Environmental Safety’, Mrs. Yetunde Adebayo discussed on the need for continuous advocacy and stakeholder engagement as a veritable means of securing voluntary compliance when troubleshooting environmental matters. 

In his final remarks, Cole emphasized on the need for professionalism, dedication to duty, high standards of discipline and the importance of maintaining good health practices and overall wellbeing for effective service delivery.