• 1,000 public workers so far trained on AI applications

• State-owned Training Institute allays fear of job loss

By Babatunde Ayedoju

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The Ondo State  Government has launched an Artificial Intelligence training programme to equip 1,000 selected civil servants and school teachers in the state.

The initiative, carried out by the State Public Service Training Institute ( PSTI), seeks to integrate AI into the state’s civil service and educational system, with the skills to prepare  workers for a technology-driven future.

The Director-General of Ondo State Public Service Training Institute, Ilara-Mokin, Dr Olumide Asere, who  disclosed this in an interview with The Hope said the public service is very essential to the development of the state.

He said that the state has been able to  train over 1,000 workers in AI, giving assurance that no worker would loose their job as a result.

He noted that the world is now a more technology- driven system.

He said: “Right now there is a technology race, especially in Artificial Intelligence, because it rules the world. Our institute is the first to embrace AI.  We are also  collaborating with other states, varsities and private organisations to blaze the trail in Artificial Intelligence and improve civil service performance.

Stressing the need for the top echelon of Ondo State civil service to key into AI, he unveiled a training for permanent secretaries which would come up shortly, saying that Ondo State cannot afford to watch while the world is moving.

He lauded Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa’s passion for the state workers capacity building in AI and his  support by equipping the institute with required infrastructure.

Asere  said that the institute had partnered with Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko, Olusegun Agagu University of Science and Technology, Okitipupa and some private organisations to improve the capacity of public servants and university workers, while also helping the private sector to grow.

He revealed that some of the training programmes of the PSTI have become a model for neighbouring states, saying that a lot of the neighbouring states now want to key into its programmes.

He said, “when I came in, we developed our brochure and one of the things we did was to sensitise everybody about it. We went round all the states in the south west. Today, all our brochures have been distributed to the south west states and Edo State.

“We wanted the Heads of Service of those states to find a way of bringing their people here. We also established a website that could convey the message of the institute to every part of the world, and we have been getting a positive feedback from that, because some states called and demanded to get our brochure not quite long ago. The institute is getting recognition outside Ondo State. There is no doubt about that.

“On the issue of private organisations, this place has been a centre of training for bankers for some time, and we are doing a lot to attract private institutions to partner with us. That is why today, we have a partnership with Hollaram Educational Institute. Very soon we are going to start new programmes that will enhance capacity. The AI training programme we are doing is not meant for public servants alone. A lot of private schools have registered and are part of it,” he added.