NIEPA Wraps Up 2025 Promotion and Regularization Exercise

Reported by Bodunde Tenabe

ONDO — There is a fresh wave of excitement sweeping through the National Institute for Educational Planning and Administration (NIEPA-Nigeria), Ondo, following the highly successful and vibrant conclusion of its 2025 Staff Promotion and Regularization Exercise.

For three days, from Tuesday, February 24 to Thursday, February 26, 2026, the Institute buzzed with intense but rewarding administrative activity. This major milestone, aimed at rewarding hard work, elevating career progression, and officially integrating fresh talent, was powerfully driven by the Appointments and Promotions Committee (APC) chaired by the Acting Director-General, Dr. David Shofoyeke. He was expertly guided by the Registrar and Secretary to Council, Dr. Festus Olaolu, and crucially supported by the Institute’s Bursar, Mrs. Lolade Shittu, ensuring that the administrative and financial pillars of the Institute were fully aligned for the exercise’s success.

To underscore the immense statutory importance of the exercise, the Institute played host to a high-ranking delegation of federal supervisors from Abuja right from the onset. Upon their arrival, the esteemed officials were formally received and introduced to the management and staff by the Institute’s Media Officer, Bodunde Tenabe.

Reflecting the strict compliance of the exercise with federal civil service regulations, this vital delegation prominently featured Mr. Oyebisi Olusola representing the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (OHCSF). He was closely supported by the representative of the Federal Ministry of Education (FME), Mrs. Aregbesola Susannah , and delegates from the Federal Character Commission (FCC), Mr. Ogunson Lutemi and Mr. Kunlere Femi Sunday. Their robust presence right from the start instantly set the tone for a highly organized, transparent, and strictly guided process.

Following the welcome protocols on Tuesday, the eligible staff hit the ground running by sitting for their written promotion examinations. The positive energy carried over into Wednesday, which featured a marathon of swift script marking and the engaging reading of administrative briefs, allowing staff to brilliantly showcase their technical competencies. By Thursday, the spotlight beautifully shifted to the newly integrated staff members, whose appointments were thoroughly and officially regularized. The seamless operational flow of these intensive phases was a massive testament to the organizational dexterity of the Registry’s Establishment Unit, expertly anchored by Deputy Registrar Mrs. Olasumbo Ogunsola.

Speaking to the Institute’s New Media Office immediately after the exercise, Mrs. Joke Akinmejiwa, who sat for the promotion exams to be elevated to the position of Deputy Bursar, expressed deep satisfaction with the entire process. “The exercise was incredibly transparent, well-organized, and fair,” she remarked. “We are deeply grateful to the Acting Director-General and the management team for ensuring such a seamless and credible process. It gives us immense confidence in the system and truly motivates us to continue giving our absolute best to the Institute.”

What truly made this year’s exercise spectacular was the additional layer of external validation management deployed to guarantee absolute fairness. To complement the federal oversight, the Institute brought in a heavyweight panel of external consultants from other institutions. This distinguished group included Prof. Gbenga Adeyemi, Director of Academics at Wesley University Ondo; Mrs. Omurwie and Mrs. Derg Osoata from the University of Lagos; Mrs. Esrom A., Director of Procurement at Adeyemi Federal University of Education Ondo; Mrs. Adenegan, Director at the Federal Teaching Hospital, Ido-Ekiti ; and Mr. Aminu Ganiyu Bamidele, Bursar of the Olusegun Agagu University of Science and Technology, Okitipupa.

Their active participation and final endorsement, alongside the commendation from the Abuja delegation, turned what is normally a routine administrative task into a massive celebration of NIEPA’s renewed credibility, leaving the workforce highly motivated and ready to aggressively drive the Institute’s mandate.