The Rivers State Administration has reaffirmed its unwavering commitment to building a modern, resilient, and effective civil service anchored on evidence-based policymaking and data analytics.
This pledge was made today as the Administrator of Rivers State, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas, officially flagged off a two-day training workshop on Research and Statistics for middle and senior-level civil servants.
The event, held at the Banquet Hall of the Government House in Port Harcourt, is a key highlight of the 2025 Civil Service Week Celebration.
The Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Ibibia Lucky Worika, who represented the Administrator, declared the workshop open. In his address, he underscored the pivotal role of a skilled civil service as the backbone of the government and the critical need for capacity building in research methodologies and data analysis.
“The civil service is the backbone of our government. To perform effectively, our officers must be equipped with the knowledge to harness research and statistics,” the Administrator stated.
“This workshop provides the platform to acquire the necessary skills to design, implement, and evaluate policies that truly respond to citizens’ needs.”
He emphasized that institutionalizing a culture of research and data-driven decision-making is essential for ensuring that government policies are not only realistic but also impactful and sustainable for the people of Rivers State.
The workshop, themed “From Data to Policy: Capacity for Evidence-Based Public Policy Management,” brings together officers on Grade Levels 8–15 from various Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs).
It is designed to equip them with advanced skills to transform raw data into actionable policies that drive development and improve service delivery.
In her welcome address, the Acting Head of the Rivers State Civil Service, Dr. Inyingi Brown, described the initiative as both timely and strategic.
“We live in an era where policy decisions can no longer rely on intuition or guesswork. Government actions must be informed by verifiable data.
This is the foundation for impactful and sustainable service delivery,” Dr. Brown said.
She urged all participants to actively engage with the facilitators to maximize the benefits of the training.
Representing the facilitators from the Center for Management Development (CMD), Mr. Bode Newo, Director of Research, commended the Rivers State Government for its visionary investment in capacity building.
He assured participants of a rigorous and impactful session aimed at significantly elevating their competence.
“We are facilitators, not lecturers. With your cooperation, this program will take you beyond your current level of competence.
Our goal is to ensure that by the time we are done, you will leave here better equipped for effective public service,” Mr. Newo remarked. This training is a core component of the broader agenda by the Rivers State Government to modernize its civil service, enhance operational efficiency, and align public administration with global best practices for the benefit of all citizens.
