By Funsho Arogundade
Oluwatoyin Atanda is a dynamic and accomplished professional with a diverse background spanning public service, business and community development. A strategic thinker with a proven track record of developing and executing high impact proposals and presentations, Oluwatoyin’s ability to navigate complex environments, coupled with her dedication to continuous improvement, makes her a valuable asset to any organization.
As the eighth female National President of JCI Nigeria, Oluwatoyin has demonstrated exceptional leadership and a commitment to community service, a passion she has cultivated for 16 years. Her professional experience is equally extensive, encompassing public service administration, governance and policy, learning and development, hospitality, human resources management, customer service, sales, marketing, retail, and brand development. She is also a strong advocate for collaborative leadership, believing that collective efforts accelerate progress.
Currently, she serves as the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor of Lagos State on Establishments and Training where she leverages her strategic brand growth and management skills to drive impactful initiatives, Oluwatoyin’s previous assignment as Senior Special Assistant to Lagos Governor on Human Capital Development showcased her ability to transform public service learning and development. She has significantly advanced the capabilities of the Lagos State Civil Service through the implementation of several impactful programmes.
In 2025, Oluwatoyin pioneered the Lagos State Public-Private Exchange Programme where officers are seconded to corporate organisations. This strategic effort is to integrate best practices from the private sector thereby enhancing the dynamism, innovation, and results-orientation of the civil service. With the governor’s approval, she launched the Lagos State Public Service Accelerator Programme, a comprehensive development initiative targeting mid-level civil servants (GL 12-14). This programme focuses on equipping them with the critical skills and global perspectives necessary for exceptional public service and effective policy and service delivery in the 21st century, utilizing a blended learning approach. Her commitment to digital literacy was evident in her facilitation of a partnership with Tech4Dev, training 3,000 public servants and providing them with Microsoft-endorsed certification. Her expertise also contributed to the success of the Lagos Economic Summit and the Lagos Leadership Summit.
She was a key member of the conceptualisation team for the Lateef Jakande Leadership Academy dedicated to cultivating future Nigerian leaders. A certified global networker with leadership credentials from the JCI Academy in Fukui Japan, Oluwatoyin is an associate member of Women in Management, Business & Public Service (WIMBIZ) and a member of Nigerian Institute of Management (NIM).