NIEPA Hosts Transformative Strategic Leadership Conference for Higher Institution Administrators
By Bodunde Tenabe
New Media Officer, NIEPA, Ondo
ONDO – The National Institute for Educational Planning and Administration (NIEPA), Ondo, has successfully concluded a highly impactful three-day capacity-building conference themed, “Strategic Leadership: Empowering Effective Governance and Transforming Administrative Staff of Higher Institutions in Nigeria.” The intensive programme, held from Monday, April 13 to Wednesday, April 15, 2026, brought together a robust delegation of administrative professionals from the Federal Polytechnic, Ado-Ekiti.
Delivering the opening address on behalf of the Acting Director-General of NIEPA, Dr. David A. Shofoyeke—the Head of Training and Research Department, Dr. Lara Ogunsola, warmly welcomed the delegates to the Institute. While conveying the Ag. DG’s greetings, Dr. Ogunsola spoke extensively on the core theme of the workshop, emphasizing that modern educational governance requires administrators who are not only adaptive but equipped with cutting-edge strategic leadership skills to drive institutional success. According to Dr. Ogunsola, the conference was meticulously designed to strengthen leadership capacity and improve overall institutional effectiveness within Nigeria’s higher education system.
Throughout the 3-day programme, participants were immersed in a series of technical sessions focused on enhancing both personal and professional competencies required for 21st-century administrative roles.
The comprehensive curriculum covered critical areas such as workplace experience sharing, emotional intelligence, and human relations, emphasizing the importance of self-awareness, empathy, and effective communication in fostering a healthy work environment. Participants were also equipped with practical frameworks for teamwork, collaborative problem-solving, and time management to better align administrative functions with broad institutional goals.
The technical sessions were anchored by a team of seasoned resource persons. In a clear demonstration of NIEPA’s commitment to offering its clients the absolute best, the Institute deployed its top-tier management for the training. Notably, the Registrar and Secretary to the Council, Dr. Festus Olaolu, served as one of the expert facilitators. Having such a highly placed and experienced administrator anchor a module served as an immense added advantage for the delegates, providing them with rare, high-level, and actionable insights into contemporary administrative challenges.
A significant highlight of the technical delivery was also the critical session on managing cultism in higher institutions, where facilitators addressed proactive preventive measures, administrative responsibilities, and collaborative approaches to ensuring maximum campus safety.
Speaking glowingly on behalf of the participants at the conclusion of the workshop, Mr. Olawale Fabunmi expressed profound gratitude to the management and facilitators of NIEPA. He delivered a powerful testimonial, confirming that the three-day engagement was truly transformative and that their professional capacities had been significantly built. Mr. Fabunmi assured the Institute that the delegates were returning to Federal Polytechnic Ado-Ekiti as better, highly equipped administrators, fully prepared to implement the strategic frameworks acquired to drive positive change in their institution.
The programme, which also featured interactive reflection segments and feedback-sharing sessions, officially closed with a renewed sense of shared purpose and a commitment to excellence within the Nigerian higher education system.
