Professor Maryam Abdu has been appointed President of the Governing Council of the Centre for Public Service Productivity and Development (CeProd) She succeeds Professor Sandeep Kumar Gupta, the pioneer president of the council, whose tenure witnessed the development of the centre’s professional foundation, membership, knowledge resources and international outlook. In her acceptance speech, Abdu said her leadership would be guided by the principle of “continuity with improvement”.
She said CeProd would build on its achievements while responding to emerging challenges, including artificial intelligence (AI), digital transformation, climate change, changing work patterns and global economic uncertainties. According to her, productivity should no longer be viewed simply as working harder but as finding smarter ways to work, using resources efficiently, innovating and creating value. She said productivity must become a national development priority if Nigeria and other African countries were to translate their human and economic potential into prosperity. “Potential alone does not create prosperity. Productivity converts potential into prosperity,” she said.
Abdu said the centre would focus on public-sector efficiency, private-sector competitiveness, entrepreneurship, workforce development, digital transformation and organisational excellence. She also called for productivity measurement and performance improvement to become part of the management culture of governments, businesses and other institutions. On the growing adoption of AI and emerging technologies, she said CeProd would promote technology-driven productivity and innovation while helping professionals acquire the skills required to adapt to the changing workplace.
She further called for stronger collaboration among CeProd Fellows and members through research, knowledge sharing and professional development. The Director-General of CeProd, Dr Chris Egbu, expressed confidence in the new leadership and called for stronger collaboration among the governing council, management and other stakeholders.