The Livelihood Improvement Family Enterprises-Niger Delta (LIFE-ND) Project in Umuahia, Abia state on Saturday began a 3-Day Management Retreat for members of staff at Aba, the commercial hub of Abia State.
The retreat is coming up after the staff members of Abia LIFE-ND successful rounded off the first phase of the project which produced 109 graduating Incubatees from the agro-bussiness training.
Speaking with newsmen about the retreat was the state project coordinator, Uchenna Rowland Onyeizu PhD.
Dr Onyeizu revealed that the retreat is part of the blueprint of the project which is designed to run annually and bye-annually. He also explained that the retreat is meant to checkmate how they have been performing and also to adjust, likewise discuss as a family among staff members.
“It is an opportunity for us to discuss as a family and identify management issues, make decisions and identify other ways we can work together as members of the project. We hope that by the end of the retreat, we all will be empowered to do our job as we go back to the office. It is an in-house training and all staff members are actively involved.” Dr Onyeizu said.
According to Dr Onyeizu, the high point of the event is that the staff members are out of their usual working environment to be more trained on their job for effective delivery.
The retreat as monitored by candidreporters.com serves as an avenue for the staff members to socialize and interact with themselves which also involves around the lecture topics on Team Work, Leadership, Sexual Harassment and Stress management.
The retreat had engagement of work and leadership management experts who took their time to dissect management principles and performance.
“At the end of the event, we will be able to adjust and work effectively.” Dr Onyeizu hoped.
Dr Tempo Chukwuemeka Nwosu, a sociologist, one of the consultant for the retreat lectured on stress, team work and sexual harassment.
Dr Tempo said “My lecture with them was a participatory one. And prove that they followed the presentation. As of what will be achieved here, I expect a change of attitude to work and to improve on the goals of the organisation.”
Dr Racheal Majekudume Omodameru, a food scientific and management expert was also a consultant who gave her presentation during the retreat. Dr Racheal did her presentation on management of employees.
“As part of the gains from the retreat, I expect the participants to have a change of attitude because we have been able to teach them to be effective in their lead as a leader and also as a staff member. The need to involve other staff members in the activities of the led was also discussed.”
“There should be reward where staff members have done well and the need to create good working relationship with who they are leading”. Dr Racheal added.
Dr Rachel also hinted on the need to access the strength of a staff in his or her assigned area in order to give proper directive of the job description which may have been judged as mischievous act on duty.
Dr Racheal also stressed the need for leaders to strike a balance in dealing with those they are leading in terms of team work, separating official duties from religious and social beliefs between staff members. And also acknowledging the effort of those they are leading.
Anthony Nwaobilor, the Abia LIFE-ND Rural and Gender Officer was part of the training. Nwaobilor narrated his experience from the retreat which he admitted that the workout exercises in the gym section where they were accommodated boosted his enthusiasm for the lecture section.
“From the lecture I have learnt the best way to manage human beings as regards how best to carry everybody along and motivate others for effective delivery. The job we do is more of mental commitment, so I have learnt that we should separate family emotion and sentiments from our job. They have also taught us how to manage issues within the work environment and the need to refresh ourselves at work to relieve stress.
Also speaking to newsmen was Mrs Akpata Samuel O. the finance officer, Abia LIFE-ND.
Mrs Akpata said as a married woman with family responsibilities, she has learnt how to balance home chores and responsibilities from office activities.
“I have learnt how to strike a time balance with work responsibilities and home chores. I have learnt that I will someday breakdown health wise because it involves struggling with time to meet up with office responsibilities and home chores. We need to have a way to arrange these responsibilities one after the other in other not to breakdown but be effective at home and office.” Mrs. Akpata said.
The LIFE-ND Project is being funded by the International Fund for Agricultural Development(IFAD). The project is ongoing in the nine Niger-Delta States.
Also involved in the project are the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, The Federal Ministry of Finance, budget and National Planning, and the United Nations.
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