NIEPA Set to Host 2026 National DPRS Conference; Media Officer Announces Nationwide Call to Strengthen Nigeria’s Education Data Systems

Reported by Bodunde Tenabe

ONDO — The National Institute for Educational Planning and Administration (NIEPA-Nigeria), Ondo, has officially set the stage for its highly anticipated 2026 National Conference for Directors and Officers of Planning, Research, and Statistics (DPRS).

According to the Institute’s Media Officer, Bodunde Tenabe, the 2026 edition is focused squarely on the home front, extending a nationwide invitation to education planning, research , statistics and administration officers across Nigeria’s Federal and State Ministries, agencies, and parastatals. Scheduled to hold from Monday, 22nd to Friday, 26th June, 2026, at the Institute’s Corporate Headquarters in Ondo City, the conference serves as a premier platform for stakeholders to converge and address the evolving challenges of the nation’s education sector.

Reflecting on the Institute’s growing impact within the country, NIEPA’s Media Officer Bodunde Tenabe on behalf of the Ag. Director General, Dr. David Shofoyeke highlighted the remarkable success of the 2025 edition, which was themed “Planning, Institutional Capacity and Policy Direction as a Panacea for Mitigating Out-of-School Children Education in Nigeria.”

The Media Officer noted that the 2025 gathering was a landmark achievement, providing critical insights that have significantly informed education policy decisions nationwide. Building on that momentum to enrich the educational process, the 2026 theme, “STRENGTHENING EDUCATION DATA SYSTEMS FOR EVIDENCE-BASED PLANNING AND DECISION MAKING,” is designed to foster a robust national discourse driven by advanced digital innovations and collaborative learning.

Speaking on the strategic importance of the event, Tenabe emphasized that these conferences are NIEPA’s primary vehicle for contributing to the transformation of Nigeria’s educational landscape. The goal is to ensure that the intellectual recommendations generated during these sessions do not just remain on paper but are transformed into actionable policy decisions that drive systemic growth in Nigeria. He further explained that the conference is structured to equip participants with specialized skills in Artificial Intelligence (AI), Data Analytics, and the optimization of Education Management Information Systems (EMIS), which are now indispensable tools for modern education managers.

Also speaking to newsmen, Chairman LOC for the conference, Dr. Mrs. Opeyemi Oyekan informed that attendance is considered essential for academics, educationists, and stakeholders across Nigeria who are committed to the long-term transformation of the education sector. She stressed that missing this gathering would mean missing an invaluable advantage to participate in a process that directly shapes the future of education planning and administration in the country.

Dr. Oyekan further said that with a participation fee of One Hundred and Twenty Thousand Naira (N120,000) per participant, covering full hospitality and conference materials, the Institute is encouraging organizations to nominate at least five delegates to maximize the impact of the training. For further registration details, the public is encouraged to contact Dr. Lara Ogunsola at 07033941015 or Dr. Opeyemi A. Oyekan at 09065489223, or visit the official website at www.niepaondo.org.ng.