Review qualification criteria to accommodate persons who could attend NIPSS, Minister urges National Institute.

Oru Leonard 

The Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, H.E. Adegboyega Oyetola, CON has charged the management of the National Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS) to review the admission criteria into the revered think thank Institute to get beyond soliciting enrolment of persons in the rank of Deputy Directors and Directors for participating in the course offered as this category of persons are on their way out of Service. “They couldn’t finish with the NIPSS course and get back to offer much to the system which sponsored them before they retire.” “The System needs someone that will attend NIPSS and still return to be useful to the System.”

Oyetola recommended that Assistant Directors and below should be considered because they will finish with the course and still have some years to retire, thus having to give back to the system.

The Minister of Marine and Blue Economy who was represented by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, Olufemi Oloruntola stated this while receiving the NIPSS Team led by the Director-General of the Institute, Professor Ayo Omotayo who paid courtesy visit to the Minister on Thursday, 29th February, 2024 at his Office.

The representative of the Minister revealed some upcoming engagements of the Ministry which include the Stakeholders’ Engagement on the National Land Transportation Policy (NLTP) as well as the Management Retreat for the Ministry of Transportation; and in respect of these, Olufemi Oloruntola stated that “In all fronts, we appreciate what NIPSS does, and we will want to involve NIPSS.” “We will designate our retreat, an engagement jointly with NIPSS.”

While speaking earlier, the Director-General of NIPSS, Prof. Ayo Omotayo who led a delegation of four from the Institute revealed that NIPSS carries out evidenced-based researches with present attention on transportation. He reiterated that the development of the transportation sector is the beginning of the development of any economy.

The Professor further likens transportation with the arteries and veins functions which carry blood and nutrients to every part of the human body. The NIPSS D-G also disclosed that the Institute has been engaged with critical stakeholders in the transportation sector and that the Institute will want to use the Sector to rejig developments in our country.

While stating that the transport sector must be given its pride of place and that NIPSS is ready to work with the Ministries under the superintendence of their host, Prof. Omotayo submitted that most of the challenges that Nigerians are going through now can be traced to the inefficiencies in the transportation sector.

The NIPSS delegation therefore sought to join the Ministry to convene a session on transportation to develop new strategies and policy for the transportation sector, to serve the nation.

The highlight of the visit was a presentation made by the NIPSS’ delegation to the representative of the Ministers of Transportation and Marine and Blue Economy, Mr. Olufemi Oloruntola in the form of an official plaque from NIPSS which the recipient rued as compensation for his missing out in participation in NIPSS’ course in his career.

Many officials of the Ministry joined the Permanent Secretary to receive the delegation from NIPSS.