In a bid to enhance transparency and efficiency in public financial management, the Enugu State Government recently conducted a three-day capacity-building workshop for Heads of Planning, Research, and Statistics, as well as Financial Officers across various government Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs).
The workshop, organized by the office of the Special Adviser to Governor Peter Mbah on Public Financial Management, aimed to equip participants with practical knowledge in Advanced Data Analytics Concepts, the application of ChatGPT in Government, and Effective Presentation Skills.
Facilitators from the Association of Certified Chartered Accountants (ACCA) covered diverse thematic areas, including Understanding the PEFA Framework, Global and African adoption of PEFA, Risk Management from the regulators’ perspective, Sustainability Reporting, and the Basis of Climate Finance.
Taking place at the Destiny Event Centre, the workshop saw active participation from sixty-eight individuals. Professor Obiamaka Egbo, the Special Adviser to Governor Peter Mbah on Public Financial Management, emphasized the workshop’s alignment with Governor Mbah’s mandate to establish transparent, accountable, and effective public financial management processes in the state.
Highlighting the significance of proper financial management across all sectors, Professor Egbo stressed the importance of capacity-building, citing a diagnostic assessment that identified substantial gaps in the state. She expressed the objective of the training to enhance capacity for public finance and sustainability in Enugu state, particularly focusing on data analytics relevant to daily activities.
The Special Adviser underscored the workshop’s goal of promoting financial transparency through data-driven decision-making, aligning Enugu State with international best practices. The overarching aim is to strengthen public finance, contribute to effective governance, and foster economic growth, aligning with Governor Peter Mbah’s projected GDP increase from 4 billion to 30 billion.
Country Head of ACCA Nigeria, Tom Isibor, emphasized the role of public financial management in ensuring proper government functioning, access to funds, and the assessment of expenditure alignment with government objectives. Isibor highlighted the workshop’s role in upskilling and reskilling participants to judiciously manage public funds in line with budgets and plans.
Igwe Chibizor, a participant from the Planning, Research, and Statistics department at the Enugu Capital Territory Development Authority (ECTDA), commended Governor Peter Mbah for approving the training. Chibizor emphasized the workshop’s contribution to strengthening their capacity in public financial management, stressing the ongoing need for constant training and retraining to achieve the government’s vision.
