By Smith Nwokocha
PEACE CORPS OF NIGERIA RETREAT/LEADERSHIP TRAINING COURSE FOR PRINCIPAL OFFICERS (P0 – A01)!
With the theme: “Navigating Leadership Challenge Through Resilience and Flexibility in a Command and Control Setting”.
www.peacecorpsofnigeria.org.ng
Host: Dr. Dickson A.O. Akoh (National Commandant-Peace Corps of Nigeria).
Under The Distinguished Chairmanship of RT. Hon. Zaphaniah Bitrus Jisalo (Honourable Minister, Federal Ministry of Special Duties and Inter-Government Affairs).
Special Guest of Honour Dr. Jamila Bio Ibrahim (Honourable Minister, Ministry of Youth Development).
This event is the Peace Corps of Nigeria Nation-wide Retreat, held from the 4th – 5th April 2024. In Rivers State, under the Leadership of the Commandant Dr. Michael Obiora, it was such an impactful ceremony and lecture, which held at Community Secondary School, Okoro nu-odo, Rumuokoro/Rumuoagholu Town, Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State.
On the 4th of April, Dignitaries including the special guest of honour at the Rivers State Command Centre of the Nationwide Retreat was the Honorable Commissioner for Information and Communication, who was ably represented by the Director Administration of the Ministry (Dr. Sam Ugo Onyeka).
In his address to the Corps, he appreciates the Management for organizing a training retreat for it’s principal officers across the nation, as he extolled the virtues of staff training. He also admonished the officers to use this training opportunity to add positively to themselves, Rivers State and the nation at large.
On the 5th of April, Dignitaries were in attendance, which includes Peace Corps of Nigeria Commandant and Officers in Riveres State Command and Reps from Abuja Command, Amb. Smith Nwokocha of Quest For Growth and Development Foundation, Mrs. Mercy Nwokocha of Institute of Human Virology of Nigeria (IHVN) and The Manager of Chilkield Security and his team were also guests at the three days training.
The virtual lecture was live, with focus on “Strategic and Essential Service” and some Administrative Principles, which sited the practicability of Henri Fayol 14 Principles of Management; highlighting them are as follows: 1. Division of Work 2. Authority 3. Discipline 4. Unity of Command 5. Unity of Direction 6. Subordination of Individual interest to general interest 7. Remuneration 8. Centralization 9. Scalar Chain 10. Order 11. Equity 12. Stability of tenure 13. Initiative 14. Espirit de Corps. Followed by James D. Mooney’s Administrative Management, which are: 1. Coordination 2. Hierarchy 3. Functional Differentiation and Lastly, Luther Gulick and the POSDCORB Theory that involves; 1. Planning 2. Organizing 3. Staffing 4. Directing 5. Coordinating 6. Reporting 7. Budgeting.
The above led to the Essential Skills for Administrative Management such as 1. Technical skills 2. Human skills 3. Conceptual skills. The facilitator emphasized that as a Leader, you must stay in touch with the trends of time (technology) and be versatile. He went ahead to inspire the officers that, as Leaders they must have the ability to communicate and communicate effectively and possibly avoid avoidable risks. He further, mentioned the benefits of Implementing Strong Administrative Management Strategy. In conclusion, he said, a good Administrative Strategies will ensure optimal performance among team members, while lack of good communication could lead to wrong decision making. Therefore, no single strategy makes a complete strategy, except all. The lecture ended with a Q & A session.
Back to Rivers State, the Commandant appreciates all the Officers, Reps from Abuja and Guests for joining the Peace Corp of Nigeria on this Retreat and Leadership training for Principals Officer, which include Leaders holding sensitive positions in different units of the command and the training will reshape and improve operations of the Officers.
PHwakawaka 