NIEPA EMPOWERS ONDO STATE HEADTEACHERS: CAPACITY BUILDING WORKSHOP CONCLUDES WITH RESOUNDING SUCCESS

April 12, 2024

Bodunde Tenabe, Reporting from Ikare Akoko, Ondo State

A three-day capacity building training workshop centered on Effective School, with the primary aim of improving teaching and learning in schools, concluded yesterday, Friday, 25th April, 2025. The workshop, part of a training programme designed by the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) mainly for headteachers in Nigeria, was facilitated by training experts from the National Institute for Educational Planning and Administration (NIEPA) Ondo.

According to reports from newsmen who thronged the venues of the trainings, the comprehensive training programmes which covered key areas of educational improvement, drew over 300 participants across the three centers in the three geo-political zones in the state—St. James Mega Primary School Irowo (Ondo Central) in Akure, the Ondo State capital; NUT Hall, Okitipupa (Ondo South); and St. Gregory Mega School, Ikare Akoko (Ondo North). The participants, comprising headteachers and their assistants, were actively engaged throughout the workshop, benefiting from modules that included enhancing self-esteem in learning, organizing group work among children, effective utilization of materials, financial management through cash book maintenance, leading professional development meetings, and strategies for meeting the diverse needs of all pupils, including enrollment and attendance.

While speaking to newsmen at the Akure center, Dr. Nojeem Oresajo, a facilitator from NIEPA, noted that the workshop had equipped headteachers with the necessary skills to improve teaching and learning in their schools, enhance pupil performance. He commended the choice of NIEPA for facilitating the programme, citing the Institute’s expertise in educational planning and administration. Mrs. Adepoju Elizabeth, Assistant Headteacher, Army Children School, Owena, expressed her appreciation, saying, “The workshop has been enlightening, and I have gained valuable insights into improving teaching and learning.”

Also speaking to reporters at the Ikare Akoko center, Dr. Waheed Oyebamiji, Lead facilitator from NIEPA, said that the training provided cutting-edge knowledge and skills for improving teaching and learning. He highlighted NIEPA’s unique capacity to deliver impactful capacity-building programmes, making it the ideal choice for such initiatives. Participants echoed his sentiments, with Hon. Adejoro S.G., Education Secretary, Akoko North East LGA, expressing gratitude to NIEPA and UBEC for the opportunity to attend the workshop. He said, “the Headteachers have learned new strategies for improving teaching and learning in their schools, and I am confident that this will improve their overall performance.”

At the Okitipupa center, NIEPA’s Folajogun Akinkuowo told reporters that the workshop had been enlightening, providing participants with new strategies and approaches to improving teaching and learning. She emphasized NIEPA’s commitment to excellence in capacity building. Mrs. Fadeni Comfort, Headteacher, LEA Primary School Ode-Mahe, Ilaje LGA, agreed, saying, “I have gained a deeper understanding of how to improve teaching and learning, and I am profusely grateful to NIEPA, Ondo SUBEB and UBEC for the knowledge and skills acquired.”

According to information contained in a press release from the Institute’s Media Office, the Acting Director-General of NIEPA, Dr. David Shofoyeke, commended the successful completion of the state-wide training exercise, which aimed to enhance teachers’ classroom management skills, improve lesson note writing, boost pupils’ confidence, and improve teaching and learning in schools. Participants were equipped with skills to translate their learning into school-based tasks, ensuring practical application and improvement in their respective schools.

The release further highlighted the Institute’s commitment to capacity building in the education sector, citing the ongoing two-month capacity building programme for academic instructors from the Nigerian Air Force Schools as part of NIEPA’s flagship Annual Training Programme (ATP). This prestigious programme is designed to equip educators and administrators with the skills and knowledge needed to excel in their roles. Dr. Shofoyeke encouraged other organizations and individuals to take advantage of this opportunity, noting that NIEPA’s ATP and many other programmes are a hallmark of excellence in educational planning and administration.

The Acting Director-General called on all Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) of government in the education sector, as well as the private sector, to patronize NIEPA for quality capacity building of their workforce. He emphasized that the successful conclusion of the workshop on Effective School with the primary aim of improving teaching and learning, underscores NIEPA’s reputation as a premier institution for educational planning and administration in Nigeria.