The West African Management Development and Productivity Network (WAMDEVIN) has concluded a 3-day High-Level Networking Workshop at the Centre for Management Development (CMD), Lagos, bringing together Directors-General, Chief Executives, senior public officials, academics, and development experts from across West Africa to strengthen collaboration among management development institutions in the region.
The workshop, which opened on Tuesday, November 25, 2025, focused on deepening cooperation, improving leadership capacity, and promoting productivity and institutional excellence among member countries.
Delivering the keynote address, the outgoing President of WAMDEVIN and Director-General of the Liberia Institute of Public Administration (LIPA), Hon. Nee-Alah Varpilah, emphasised the need for stronger regional collaboration to address shared development challenges.
He noted that issues such as governance reforms, skills development, digital transformation, and public sector productivity required joint action and sustained networking among institutions.
‘Collaboration is no longer optional; it is a development strategy. Our countries face similar challenges, and the more we work together, the faster we grow together,’ he said.
The workshop featured technical sessions, peer-learning forums, and knowledge-sharing engagements among member institutions from Nigeria, Liberia, The Gambia, Ghana, Sierra Leone, and other West African countries.
A key highlight of the event was the confirmation of the election of the new President of WAMDEVIN at the joint sitting of the Executive Committee (EXCO) and General Assembly.
Mr. Alieu Jarju, Director-General of the Management Development Institute/Civil Service University (MDI/CSU) of The Gambia, was unanimously elected on July, 10, but had his election confirmed at the event as the new President of the Network.
Jarju expressed gratitude for the confidence reposed in him and pledged to consolidate ongoing reforms while strengthening cooperation among member institutions.
He stated that his leadership would focus on deepening regional collaboration; enhancing institutional capacity among MDIs; improving WAMDEVIN’s visibility and engagement with regional bodies; and expanding resource mobilisation and partnership efforts.
The Executive Secretary of WAMDEVIN, Mr Olaolu Adewumi also lauded the dedication of member institutions and reaffirmed the network’s commitment to driving capacity building and productivity improvement across West Africa.
Participants hailed the Centre for Management Development (CMD), Lagos for hosting the event and for its continued contribution to management development in Nigeria and the sub-region.