NIEPA Conference Calls for Smart Quality Assurance Systems in Education
The National Institute for Educational Planning and Administration (NIEPA) is hosting a 3-day conference in Ondo city themed “Driving Excellence: Innovation and Best Practices in Education Quality Assurance in the 21st Century.” This event brings together Directors, Deputy-Directors, and Assistant-Directors of Quality Assurance from Federal and State Ministries of Education and their Parastatals. The conference aims to underscore the importance of leveraging technology, analytics, and global best practices to enhance quality assurance in Nigeria’s education sector.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Acting Director-General/Chief Executive of NIEPA, Dr. A. D. Shofoyeke, highlighted the critical role of quality assurance in ensuring adherence to standards, effective policy implementation, and learning outcomes. He emphasised the need for “smart quality assurance systems” that harness innovation to transform education quality assurance. Dr. Shofoyeke noted that this aligns with the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa’s push for digital transformation in education to enhance quality and accountability. By embracing innovation and best practices in quality assurance, Nigeria’s education sector can address challenges, improve learning outcomes, and meet global standards.
Dr. Lara Ogunsola, Head of Training and Research Department, NIEPA, emphasised the importance of innovative approaches in education quality assurance for achieving excellence in the 21st century. She appealed to participants to patronise NIEPA for capacity building needs to enhance skills in driving quality assurance and emerging trends.
Mr. Saka Adebayo Ibraheem, UNICEF Education Specialist, highlighted the significance of quality assurance in ensuring inclusive and equitable education for all in Nigeria. He stressed the need for leveraging innovation and best practices in quality assurance to improve learning outcomes and called for all hands in the sector to address problems militating against quality education.
Dr. Ameh Ogbemudia, Director General, Directorate of Education Quality Assurance and Accountability, Edo State, responding on behalf of the directors, commended NIEPA and the timing of the programme as it resonated with the vision of the Edo State Governor, His Excellency Senator Monday Okpebholo’s drive for quality assurance in educational practices in the state. Dr. Ogbemudia, daughter of the former Governor of the old mid-western region of Nigeria, Dr. Samuel Osaigbovo Ogbemudia highlighted her expectations of the conference to include fostering collaboration and sharing best practices in quality assurance across states. Other directors who gave remarks at the event include Mr. Okereke Uchechukwu, Director STVSMB, Enugu State, Dr. Abubakar from NTI and Mallam Shehu Ibrahim Imam from Zamfara Quality Assurance Authority.
In the vote of thanks, NIEPA’s Registrar and Secretary to Council, Dr. Festus Olaolu, expressed gratitude to all participants, speakers, and organisers for making the conference a success. He stressed the need for respective state governments to commit more funds to support the attendance of more participants at conferences like this, emphasising that such investments would yield long-term benefits for the education sector. Dr. Olaolu’s appeal underscored the importance of collaborative efforts in driving excellence in education quality assurance across Nigeria.
Speaking to newsmen before the commencement of sessions, Chairman of the LOC, Dr. Opeyemi Oyekan, said this year’s Quality Assurance event is the second in a series organised by NIEPA to foster collaboration, innovation, and best practices in quality assurance among education stakeholders. Dr. Oyekan noted that the first event in this series was the DPRS gathering held last month, which drew over 40 directors. Dr. Oyekan added that the aim of these gatherings is to produce actionable resolutions and strategies to drive excellence in education quality assurance, ensuring Nigerian education meets global expectations.
