News
NEDC Advances ISO Standards Integration Across Development Operations
Joel Ajayi
The North East Development Commission (NEDC) has intensified efforts to institutionalise ISO management systems across its operations, urging senior management to take full ownership of the standards and ensure their effective integration into the Commission’s day-to-day activities.
Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of NEDC, Mohammed Goni Alkali, stated this on Monday in Abuja during the ISO Executive Retreat 2026 for senior staff which focused on leadership ownership, accountability, governance and the effective application of management systems to development programmes across the North-East.
The retreat comes after NEDC achieved certification to five management system standards covering quality management, environmental management, occupational health and safety, anti-bribery management and sustainable development in communities.
While describing the certification as an important milestone, the Commission said the immediate priority was to ensure that the standards become embedded in its leadership, decision-making processes, risk management and programme implementation.
The retreat is also designed to strengthen the link between the NEDC’s management systems and the North-East Master Plan, which provides the strategic direction for development across the region.
According to the him, while the Master Plan identifies development priorities, effective management systems provide the structure required for planning, coordination, accountability, risk management, performance monitoring and continuous improvement.
A major feature of the retreat is a Management Challenge, where senior managers are expected to apply management-system principles to practical development issues, including electric mobility and renewable energy investments.
Participants will examine governance, coordination, sustainability, risk management and programme delivery, with the aim of developing practical recommendations that can improve the Commission’s operations.
The programme also includes a Personal Clinic through which various units will examine areas requiring improvement and identify corrective actions. The approach places emphasis on solving problems and improving processes rather than assigning blame.
NEDC’s leadership stressed that institutional excellence should not be left to a single department, auditors or consultants, but should become a collective responsibility across the Commission.
On her own, Acting Head of the Governance and Compliance Service Reforms Unit, Fatima Dalhatu, said the retreat was intended to move the conversation beyond understanding ISO standards to taking ownership of the systems.
She explained that ISO should not be treated as something separate from the Commission’s work, but as a framework for improving service delivery and achieving the objectives contained in the Master Plan.
Dalhatu further emphasised the role of senior management, noting that while the Governance and Compliance Service could coordinate the systems, senior managers must take ownership and ensure their implementation.
She said the programme would provide participants with an opportunity to translate ISO principles into practical actions within their respective responsibilities.
The retreat also features a town hall session designed to encourage open discussions and give participants an opportunity to raise issues and contribute to improving the Commission’s systems.
According to NEDC, the ultimate goal is to transform the certification milestone into an organisational culture built around quality, accountability, integrity, safety and sustainability.
The Commission said stronger systems and clearer accountability would contribute to more effective and sustainable development outcomes for communities across the six states of the North-East.
The retreat is expected to conclude with specific management actions, assigned responsibilities and follow-up mechanisms to sustain continuous improvement beyond the event.
News
Nigeria at 66: ‘We Must Not Lose Faith in Nigeria’ — FCC Boss Omidiran
Joel Ajayi
The Executive Chairman of the Federal Character Commission (FCC), Honorable Hulayat Motunrayo Omidiran, has called on Nigerians to use the occasion of the nation’s 66th Independence Anniversary to renew their faith in Nigeria, strengthen national unity and recommit themselves to building a more inclusive and prosperous country.
In her 66th Independence Day message, Hon. Omidiran described October 1 as more than a celebration of freedom, saying the anniversary provides an opportunity for Nigerians to reflect on the country’s journey, acknowledge its progress and challenges, and renew the collective determination to build a nation where every citizen has a sense of belonging.
According to the FCC Executive Chairman, the Federal Character Principle remains particularly important to the quest for national cohesion because equitable representation promotes a sense of ownership and confidence in the Nigerian project.
“Nigeria is a nation of great diversity and
enormous potential. Our responsibility is to ensure that this diversity becomes a bridge that connects us rather than a barrier that separates us. Every Nigerian deserves to feel that he or she belongs to this country and has a role to play in its development,” Omidiran said.
The FCC boss called on government institutions at all levels to remain committed to fairness, equity, accountability and inclusive governance, while urging citizens to support efforts aimed at strengthening national institutions and promoting peaceful coexistence.
“We must not lose faith in Nigeria. The challenges before us are real, but so are the opportunities and the enormous human and natural resources available to us. Every citizen has a responsibility to contribute his or her own quota to building the Nigeria we desire,” she stated.
The FCC Executive Chairman also urged young Nigerians to remain committed to acquiring knowledge and skills, entrepreneurship, innovation, sports and other productive ventures, describing the youth as critical stakeholders in the country’s future.
“As we celebrate 66 years of independence, let us remember that the Nigeria we want cannot be built by government alone. It requires the commitment of all of us – leaders and citizens, young and old, from every part of the federation. Together, we can build a Nigeria where justice, fairness, opportunity and peace are available to all,” she said.
Omidiran reaffirmed the FCC’s commitment to the effective discharge of its constitutional mandate and to supporting efforts that promote equitable representation and inclusive national development across the federation.
The former lawmaker wished Nigerians at home and abroad a peaceful and memorable 66th Independence Anniversary, praying for continued peace, stability, prosperity and progress for the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“Our differences should never be greater than our common identity as Nigerians. Let us continue to choose unity over division, service over self-interest and hope over despair. The Nigeria of our dreams is possible if we all play our part,” Omidiran said.
“On behalf of the Federal Character Commission, I congratulate all Nigerians on this 66th Independence Anniversary. May this occasion renew our patriotism, strengthen our unity and inspire us to work together for a stronger, more equitable and prosperous Nigeria. May God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” she added.
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