HCSF inaugurates Once-Knowledge System Steering Committee to drive capacity building and talent management

HCSF inaugurates Once-Knowledge System Steering Committee to drive capacity building and talent management

The Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (HCSF), Mrs. Didi Esther Walson-Jack has launched the ONCE-Knowledge System Steering Committee – a groundbreaking platform to harmonise and elevate capacity building, knowledge management, and talent development across the Federal Civil Service.

A statement by Mrs. Eno Olotu, OHSCF’S Director of Information and Public Relations, disclosed that the inauguration is part of government’s vision to create a world-class, future-ready Civil Service,

Speaking at the launch in Abuja, Mrs. Walson-Jack, described the initiative as, “a bold new approach that ensures every Civil Servant, from the newest entrant to the most senior executive, is prepared, empowered, and supported throughout their career journey.”

She explained that the system addresses long-standing fragmentation in capacity building through the creation of a single, coordinated framework that follows civil servants from entry to exit, anchored on the Federal Civil Service Strategy and Implementation Plan 2021–2025 (FCSSIP 25), specifically Pillar One: Capacity Building and Talent Management.

Mrs Walson-Jack stated that the ONCE-Knowledge System is anchored on five interconnected pillars designed to support civil servants throughout their career journey.

According to her, it begins with comprehensive onboarding programmes for newly recruited and newly promoted officers, ensuring early alignment with the values and priorities of the Service.

This is followed by robust capability development initiatives, such as the Structured Mandatory Assessment-Based Programme (SMAT-P), the Leadership Enhancement and Development Programme (LEAD-P), cadre-specific trainings, and digital literacy programmes covering emerging technologies.

The HCSF noted that to strengthen leadership at the highest levels, the framework will also provide executive masterclasses for ministers, permanent secretaries, and chief executives of federal agencies.

As officers transition out of service, structured exit management protocols preserve institutional memory and support retirees through entrepreneurship and agripreneurship initiatives.

She added that a dedicated knowledge management strategy will also institutionalise learning, foster communities of practice, and safeguard the collective wisdom of the Civil Service for future generations.

Earlier, the Permanent Secretary, Career Management Office, Mrs. Fatima Mahmood, reaffirmed the importance of the initiative, noting that it “brings coherence to all capacity building efforts and ensures we deliver tangible results in this declared Year of Accomplishments.”

The 14 – member Committee is chaired by Mrs. Fatima Mahmood, Permanent Secretary, Career Management Office, and comprises senior officials from key government offices, heads of federal training institutions, representatives of development partners, and private sector experts in capacity building and knowledge management.

The inauguration marks another milestone in the ongoing civil service reform journey, signalling the Federal Government’s commitment to building a highly skilled, future-ready workforce capable of delivering world-class public services to Nigerians.