The Oyo State Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters has trained 873 officials across the 33 local government areas of the state to enhance governance and service delivery at the grassroots.

The one-day capacity-building workshop, held in Ibadan on Thursday, targeted 453 Local Government Supervisory Councillors and 420 Special Assistants.

It aimed to equip them with the necessary skills and knowledge to drive impactful governance at the local level.

Speaking at the event, the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters, Ademola Ojo, described the initiative as a strategic move to strengthen grassroots administration.

He urged the participants to apply the insights gained during the training proactively to improve their performance.

Ojo, who was represented by the Coordinating Director of the Ministry, Oladotun Olamide, commended Governor Seyi Makinde for his dedication to effective governance across all parts of the state.

Delivering the training, Prof. Kemisola Adenegan of the Department of Agricultural Economics, University of Ibadan, highlighted the importance of capacity development in enhancing the efficiency of local government operations.

She emphasised that the participants must be active players in decision-making and governance processes within their jurisdictions.

Speaking on behalf of the participants, Hammed Adebisi, Supervisory Councillor for Youth and Sports in Iseyin Local Government, praised the state government for the initiative.

He said the training would significantly reshape the way local officials address community challenges and foster development at the grassroots.

Adebisi reaffirmed that the local government, being the tier of government closest to the people, requires a strong and effective administrative structure to deliver on its mandate.