OFFICE OF THE EXECUTIVE SECRETARY

Professor Akpama, Simon Ibor before his appointment as the Executive Secretary of the National Commission for Mass Literacy, Adult and Non – Formal Education (NCML) in September 2021 was the Dean of the Faculty of Education, University of Calabar, Cross River State, Nigeria. He has held several other positions in the University before his present appointment. He has authored several publications both local and international. He is an academia per excellence. He is a multiple award winner; including the 2023 Census Ambassador of the National Population Commission. He is also a member of several organizations including the British African Academic Partnership (BAAP); Member, Counselling Association of Nigeria (CAN); Member, Nigeria National Council for Adult Education (NNCAE); and Member, Nigerian Education Research Reporters. He is happily married.

Department of Administration and General Services

This Department is headed by a Director who is responsible for the routine administrative functions of the Commission. The Administration and General Services Department ensure that the staffing of the Commission is appropriate to the Commission’s overall objectives. The Administration and General Services Department have two main Divisions, which include:

• Appointments, Promotion and Disciplinary Division (APDD)
• Staff Welfare, Training and General Services Division.

 

To this end, the Department:

• Maintain procedures of selection, recruitment, placement and appraisal which will ensure the availability of staff in appropriate numbers, skills and abilities suited to the requirements of each job and ensure that the Federal Character principles are maintained in recruitment and placement
• Handling Secondment and Transfer cases
• Be Responsible for Junior and Senior Staff Promotions, Conversions and Advancements
• Be responsible for all training and staff development programmes of the Commission
• Be responsible for Disciplinary Matters of staff of the Commission
• Ensure the implementation of approved working conditions and welfare facilities that would enhance efficiency and harmony
• Serving as secretariat to the Governing Board and its standing committees
• Making available stationeries, office equipment and furniture, while ensuring records, storage and maintenance of these items
• Be responsible for transport management and maintenance
• Be responsible for building maintenance and decoration
• Ensure the general security of the entire properties of the Commission
• Be responsible for the management of staff/personnel records and registries
• Be responsible for secretarial services for all statutory bodies of the Commission
• Preparing and presenting action plans and reports on the activities of the Department to the Executive Secretary
• Carry out any other duties as may be assigned by the Executive Secretary from time to time.

 

Department of Finance and Accounts

This Department is headed by a Director and comprises two Divisions:

• Accounts Division
• Finance Division.

and is responsible for the following functions:

• Development of a robust capacity in the areas of budgeting and financial management
• Liaising with all Departments in preparation of the Commission’ annual budget, both recurrent, capital and special expenditure
• Receiving the Commission’s Grants and other revenue from all sources
• Managing Local and International Donor Agencies Grants for NFE projects
• Preparation and payment of monthly staff salary, emoluments and other claims of the Commission
• Liaison with relevant bodies in matters related to finance
• Rendering Financial Statements of the Commission periodically or when required
• In charge of the safety of the Commission’s Financial Assets
• Ensuring effective budgetary discipline
• Attending to Internal and External Auditors'’ requests
• Advising the Executive Secretary on financial matters
• Ensuring that the Commission’s Accounts are properly and promptly audited as at when due
• Preparing and presenting action plans and reports on the activities of the Department to the Executive Secretary
• Any other duties assigned by the Executive Secretary from time to time.

 

Department of Literacy and Development

This department is headed by a Director of Literacy and The Department consists of three Divisions:

• Basic and Post Literacy Division
• Women Education Division, and
• Continuing and Life-long Education Division.

Its main functions include to:

• Initiate and implement strategies in collaboration with the Network, Partnership and Mobilization Department that will enhance increased participation in the mass literacy campaign and delivery through adequate mobilization of providers and receivers of literacy
• Organizing and coordinating the implementation of pilot/intervention literacy and other adult education projects provided by the Commission in different parts of the country
• Lead the process of developing relevant curriculum to serve the needs of specific populations such as out-of-school boys, the girl child, the almajiris, vulnerable adolescents, prison inmates, people who are physically challenged, People Living with HIV and Aids (PLHA), and displaced people, so that adult and out-of-school youth learners can meet their specific learning needs congruent with their age and gender needs
• Providing advisory services on literacy programmes to service providers including CBOs, NGOs, and the organized private sector
• Establishment of coordination mechanisms among literacy providers, especially the state agencies for mass education
• Work to increase public and private resources and participation for delivery of literacy and non-formal education as a whole
• Provide non-formal education programmes specific to the needs of women, so that they can be effective mothers and members of society
• Development of strategies to increase the participation of women as learners and as facilitators and supervisors
• Collaborating with the Women Education Unit of the Federal Ministry of Education, Federal and States Ministries of Women Affairs, Professional Women Groups, and Women NGOs, in respect of their mass literacy programmes
• Undertaking Women Studies to identify areas of research and suggesting same to Planning, Research and Statistics Department
• Collaborating with Kano Centre to develop primers, “follow-up” reading materials, plays and story books to ensure that women interests are well catered for
• Assist the National Commission for Nomadic Education in designing programmes and publishing learning materials for Nomadic Adults
• Coordinating the activities of women centres throughout the country
• Guide occasional review of non-formal education curriculum, in collaboration with NERDC and other relevant stakeholders
• Ensuring that learning and training materials are contextually relevant to real life situations of learners especially as they relate to their daily activities
• Identify areas needing research in literacy and non-formal education and make such available to the Planning, Research and Statistics Department
• Preparing and presenting action plans and reports on the activities of the Department to the Executive Secretary
• Any other duties that may be assigned by the Executive Secretary from time to time.

 

Department of Monitoring and Evaluation

Monitoring and evaluating the non-formal education system is needed to achieve the system’s goals and objectives. Rational decision-making is so important in the management and planning of adult education. This function requires the availability of reliable and objective information (which monitoring makes possible) on the way the policies and programmes are being implemented, to understand the successes recorded and to detect possible pitfalls and obstacles, and consequently rectify and reorient strategies. Therefore, an NFE monitoring and evaluation system will provide essential data for decision making, enable the Commission to support programmes and curriculum, and enable reporting to the government and other supporters of literacy and non-formal education on the learning outcomes of the system for its graduates. The Department shall comprise of at least two Divisions:

• Monitoring Division
• Evaluation and Accreditation Division

This Department will remain as it is under a Director and its main functions will include:

• Monitoring of all programmes offered by the Commission
• To monitor mass literacy activities in the country through the Zonal Offices of the Commission
• Developing specific indicators for monitoring non-formal education learners and programme progress
• Developing evaluation instruments and tools for conducting both formative and summative evaluation
• Collaboration with relevant agencies to conduct a national assessment to determine the current literacy rate in Nigeria
• Developing and implementing guidelines, regulations and standards for quality assurance in literacy and related programmes
• Developing and operationalizing minimum standards for literacy programme
• Moderating and validating of all learning and training materials developed by other providers for use in non-formal education programmes
• Submission of monitoring and evaluation reports to the Executive Secretary for appropriate action by the Commission
• Encouraging and support local monitoring of NFE, ensuring the participation of the community in the process
• Prepare monitoring and evaluation instruments for use by the Zonal Monitoring Officers
• Recommending appropriate logistics and monitoring equipment for effective monitoring and evaluation
• Identify areas needing research action and other forms of investigation and recommend to the Planning, Research and Statistics Department
• Present action plans and annual reports on the activities of the Department to the Executive Secretary
• Carry out any other duties as may be assigned by the Executive Secretary from time to time.

 

Department of Network, Partnership and Mobilization

In view of the important roles NGOs play in literacy and non-formal education delivery and the strategic functions of the IDPs, the department headed by a Director. The Department has three functional Divisions as follows:

• Networking Division
• Partnership Division
• Mobilization Division

and its functions includes:

• Design and coordination of regular nationwide awareness raising efforts to sensitize the citizenry about the importance of literacy and non-formal education
• Promotion of effective public involvement and mobilization for active participation in literacy and adult education through regular sensitization workshops and the effective use of the media including radio and television
• Organizing all relevant ceremonies in collaboration with the Literacy and Development Department such as the International Literacy Day Ceremony aimed at promoting mobilization for literacy and adult education
• Establishing regulatory guidelines and standards as well as registration of non-governmental organizations with focus on literacy and non-formal education delivery
• Ensuring that the literacy work of all Voluntary and NGO literacy providers is effectively coordinated
• Increasing the participation in NFE delivery amongst CBOs and NGOs through local and community management groups
• Establishing synergy among CBOs, NGOs and CSOs in literacy delivery
• Offering the NGOs in collaboration with the Literacy Department professional and support services
• Collaborating with the NGOs in the development of Learners Kits
• Organizing and sponsoring train-the-trainers workshops for NGOs in collaboration with the Literacy Department
• Assisting Network of NGOs in literacy in the development and production of Newsletters
• Support the advocacy work of NGOs in literacy programmes
• To in collaboration with the relevant departments organize stakeholders meeting
• Establish linkages with International Development Partners (IDPs) and Multi-Nationals
• Preparing and presenting action plans and reports on the activities of the Department to the Executive Secretary
• Carry out any other duties as may be assigned by the Executive Secretary from time to time.

Department of Planning, Research and Statistics

The Planning, Research and Statistics Department headed by a Director, The Department has three functional divisions as follows:

• Planning Division,
• Research and Documentation Division
• Statistics and Information Management Division.

and perform the following functions:

• To develop in collaboration with the finance department, an annual work plan and accompanying proposed budget based on the goal and objectives of the Commission
• To draw up projects aimed at fulfilling short and long-term literacy and adult education improvement strategies
• To develop strategic plan of action for adult and non-formal education including mass literacy
• Gathering, collating and processing of data on mass literacy, adult and non-formal education in collaboration with the Monitoring and Evaluation Department
• To establish and maintain a reliable statistical database on non-formal education in Nigeria (data on institutions, programmes, learners and teachers, etc.)
• To Keep records on adult education , as a statistical and social category
• To prepare and publish in collaboration with the Monitoring and Evaluation Department statistical digest and manuals for mass literacy, adult and non-formal education
• To Design and carry out basic and action researches in literacy, adult and non-formal education, especially on issues that relates directly to the mandate of the Commission
• To disseminate research findings and facilitate information sharing within and outside the Commission and more importantly among critical stakeholders.
• To organize workshops on Research Methods for staff of the Commission, State Agencies and NGOs
• To organize Seminars, Workshops and Conferences for and on behalf of the Commission
• Publish Academic Journals and books on Adult Education including Mass Literacy for the Commission
• Establish a research library and a documentation centre for Mass Literacy and Adult Education for the Commission
• Assist the State Agencies in setting up their documentation and library services
• To maintain an efficient central computer and management information unit of the commission
• Preparing and presenting action plans and reports on the activities of the Department to the Executive Secretary
• Any other duties that may be assigned by the Executive Secretary from time to time

 DEPARTMENT OF VOCATIONAL AND CONTINUING EDUCATION

Introduction:

The Vocational and Continuing Education Department has the mandate of carrying out vocational training needs assessment of centres with the intent to procure right. The purchase of all equipment and materials based on the needs assessment and ensuring equitable distribution of these to vocational centres across the 36 State of the Federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

The department will also oversee the assessment as well as coordinate remedial and continuing education centres across the country in partnership with Zonal offices and State Agencies. The department will pursue the realization of making the Kano Centre a certificate – awarding institution in collaboration with relevant stakeholders.

The department will oversee:

·        Entrepreneurial skill development for yours/graduates of Agri-business and other relevant skills.

·        Purchase of vocational starter packs for beneficiaries of the Literacy Through Economic Empowerment Strategies (LEES) Program, and State Agencies.

·        Review of the curricula in the 17 trade/skills areas.

 

PROPOSED STUCTURE OF THE DEPARTM ENT

The department will have 3 major units, namely:

i.                   Vocational Skills

ii.                 Continuing Education

iii.              Remedial Studies

 

FUNCTIONS OF THE DEPARTMENT

i.                   To conduct periodic needs assessment survey of the various vocational.

ii.                 Establish National Standard with relevant agencies for vocational skills training across the centre.

iii.              Test and certify graduates of approved vocational centre.

iv.               Prepare periodic and annual report on the activities of the department.

v.                 Work with other department for the actualization of LEES Program.

vi.               Supervise and monitor skill acquisition schemes across the centres in the 36 states and FCT and the relevant departments.

vii.             Review of existence skills training programs and curricula.

viii.         Collaborate with the Kano and Minna centre located there as well ensure other remedial and continuing education activities are certified.

ix.               Development and implementation other geared toward achieving the mandate of the commission.

x.                 Undertake any other functions as assigned by the Executive Secretary.

 

    SPECIAL PROGAMMES DEPARTMENT

The Special Programmes Department has the mandate to coordinate and implement all special interventions to address the challenges of out of school children/adult in the country, special and inclusive education and community development.

The department in the bid to achieve its mandate works with relevant stakeholders in the Nigeria education section, NGOs, FBOs, International Development Partners, Donor Agencies etc. to facilitate mass literacy delivery and promote non-formal education in the country.

UNITS UNDER THE DEPARTMENT:

1.     SPECIAL PUBLICATION UNIT

Researching, collating and publishing of NFE follow-up reading materials.

 

2.     SPECIAL AND INCLUSIVE EDUCATION UNIT

i.                   People Living with Disabilities

ii.                 Integrated Quranic and Tsangaya Programme

iii.              Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), Migrant Communities Education.

 

3.     COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT UNIT

i.                   Community Learning Centres

ii.                 Community Self - Help Projects

iii.              Special Projects.

 

FUNCTIONS/RESPONSIBILITIES:

1.     Development and Construction of Community Learning Centres.

2.     Identifying and embarking on Community Self-Help Programmes/Projects eg. Tsangaya, Integrated Quranic etc.

3.     Address inclusive Educational Programmes, examples Correctional Centres Education, Physically Challenged, Vulnerable Groups, IDPs etc.

4.     Mainstreaming of our Clienteles/Learners into the formal education sector.

5.     Writing and printing publications to enhance reading among learners through follow-up reading materials.

6.     Reaching out to migrant and mobile communities to avail them with adult and non-formal education learning opportunities in their host communities.

7.     Ensuring that mechanisms are put in place to enable Almajiris (Integrated Quranic and Tsangara Education), Child Labourers and Artisans (Apprentices) have access to Basic Education.