Secondary school principals in Oyo and Ogun states have commenced training in digital literacy, cybersecurity, and other courses.
The first cohort of the training is organised by the Olusegun Obasanjo Leadership Institute, under the Advanced Certificate in School Leadership and Management programme.
In a statement by the facilitator and chairman of OOLI Special Management Advisory Group, Prof Emeritus Peter Okebukola, the training took off with principals and vice principals from Ogun and Oyo states.
According to Okebukola, “OOLI deploys the global best practice of first finding out the training needs of potential trainees before developing the training curriculum.
“This is followed by the development of the training materials and then the implementation of the training programme.
“That way, OOLI will be meeting the needs of trainees rather than conjecturing what their needs would be.”
He commended the governors of Ogun and Oyo states for sponsoring their principals and vice principals to attend the nine-week, long-vacation training.
“On behalf of the Founder of OOLI, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, I thank the two governors and their commissioners for education, science and technology for the nominations to the training,” he said.
The founder of OOLI and chairman of its governing board, former President Olusegun Obasanjo, while addressing the participants at the orientation programme, stressed the important role principals play in the education sector, especially in the development of good character, morals and skills for young people.
“You are saddled with extraordinary responsibility, and you should discharge this creditably and satisfactorily. This training programme by OOLI has been specially packaged to assist you in achieving this goal,” he said.
In his welcome address, the Director of OOLI, Gen Martin Luther Agwai (retd.), noted that “the training programme is fully aligned with OOLI’s core objective to equip leaders at every level with the insight, values, and skills required to drive change in complex environments.”
He added, “Today’s principals are strategic leaders who must contend with a range of complex demands-from governance and school safety, to fostering innovation and creating inclusive learning environments,” he said.
Members of the OOLI Special Management Advisory Group include former Vice-Chancellor, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife, Prof Eyitope Ogunbodede; former Vice-Chancellor, Ahmadu Bello University, Prof Nasir Maiturare; Prof Uchenna Nzewi of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka; former Deputy Vice Chancellor, Academic, National Open University of Nigeria, Prof Joy Eyisi; former DVC, UNIOSUN and Deputy Director, UNESCO-IACIU, Prof Anthony Kola-Olusanya; Director of Academic Planning, Bells University of Technology, Ota, Prof Ngozi Arisa and a UNESCO expert, Dr Adekunle Oladejo.
