The National Institute for Educational Planning and Administration (NIEPA), in partnership with the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), has commenced a nationwide workshop aimed at strengthening effective school management practices in Nigeria’s basic education sector.

The five-day NIEPA workshop, themed ‘Effective School Management in the 21st Century’, kicked off on Monday, May 19, 2025, across three zonal centres: Kano (Northwest and East), Lokoja (North Central), and NIEPA’s corporate headquarters in Ondo (South).

It brings together education secretaries, head teachers, and junior secondary school principals to build capacity for better school leadership and educational planning.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, NIEPA’s Acting Director-General, Dr. David Shofoyeke, underscored the importance of equipping school administrators with relevant 21st-century skills to foster excellence.

He emphasised that the workshop would offer participants the opportunity to exchange experiences, adopt best practices, and craft effective strategies for managing schools nationwide.

Flagging off the event, the Director of Education Planning, Research and Development at the Federal Ministry of Education, Mrs. Obianuju Anigbogu—represented by Mr. Matthew Nganjiozor of NEMIS—highlighted the growing need for strategic school management in the face of modern challenges like insecurity, bullying, and societal shifts.

He urged participants to make the most of the training to enhance retention, improve learning outcomes, and create nurturing environments for academic success.

UBEC’s representative, Mr. Arogundade Olusegun, reiterated the Commission’s commitment to quality education delivery, noting that the workshop is part of a broader strategy to improve the effectiveness of basic education systems through skilled school leadership.

Also speaking, the representative of the Executive Chairman of Kogi State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Alhaji Alhassan Adakeke, welcomed participants to Lokoja and affirmed the state’s dedication to educational development. He stressed the value of strong management in achieving lasting improvement in teaching and learning.

Dignitaries in attendance included officials from the Federal Ministry of Education, Kogi SUBEB, and NIEPA, such as Malam Sanni Tukur, Mrs. Ann Olurinde, Mr. Salihu Usman, Alhaji Ibrahim Ishaq, and Dr. Samson Oyeromi.

On behalf of the participants, Education Secretaries Alhaji Shehu Ebule (Dekina LGA, Kogi State) and Dr. Usman Tukura (Chanchaga LGA, Niger State) pledged to disseminate the knowledge gained to their colleagues across schools.

The workshop continues with sessions on leadership, pedagogy, and policy development, and is expected to produce a cadre of empowered school managers capable of transforming Nigeria’s education landscape.