The Ministry of Agriculture in Lagos and Ogun State, with the support of DAWN Commission and DFID/PERL (Partnership to Engage Reform and Learn) recently inaugurated an Agricultural Change Management Team to steer desired developmental changes in the States.

The inauguration which took place at the ParkInn Hotel, Abeokuta, the Ogun State Capital and Shoregate Hotel, Ikeja, the Lagos State Capital, had in attendance senior officials from the Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) in the States’ Agricultural sector, as well as representatives from the business community. The inauguration which came with an induction workshop on change management processes also had in attendance representatives in the Agricultural sector from Ekiti, Ondo, Osun and Oyo States to buttress the Southwest Regional Agricultural Development Agenda.

Earlier in the year, DAWN Commission in partnership with DFID-PERL engaged stakeholders in the Southwest Agricultural Sector, comprising both the State and non-state actors, to develop a strategic guide for governance interventions for improving the sector’s policy environment and strengthen existing systems and processes, towards improving service delivery in the sector. The stakeholders developed bespoke action plans to address identified intervention areas which the inaugurated Change Management Team will steer its implementation in their respective States.

The Change Management Team comprises of public servants from the offices of the Heads of Service, the Directors of State Reform Coordinating Agencies, Permanent Secretaries and senior officials of ministries of Agriculture, Justice, Planning and Budget, Trade and Commerce, as well as representatives of independent producer organisation, and reputable business/trade associations. The primary goal of the team is to facilitate improvement in Agricultural Markets Governance of their States.