BPW Nigeria Honours NCCE Executive Secretary, Dr. Angela Ajala, Calls for Women’s Capacity Development

The National President of Business and Professional Women Nigeria, Ms. Ojobo Ode Atuluku Esq., alongside members of the association, paid a courtesy and congratulatory visit to the Executive Secretary of the National Commission for Colleges of Education, Dr. Mrs. Angela Ajala, in recognition of her appointment to the strategic national office.

The visit, which brought together women professionals, stakeholders, and members of the media, celebrated Dr. Ajala’s remarkable contributions to leadership, education, and women’s advancement in Nigeria.

Speaking during the engagement, the BPW Nigeria President described Dr. Ajala’s appointment as a proud moment for the organisation and a strong affirmation of the increasing relevance of competent and visionary women in national development.

She noted that Dr. Ajala’s emergence as Executive Secretary of the NCCE reflects years of distinguished service, visionary leadership, institutional commitment, and dedication to education and societal transformation.

According to her, the appointment represents national recognition of excellence, integrity, and capacity, while reinforcing the need for more women to occupy strategic leadership positions across critical sectors of the country.

“At BPW Nigeria, we strongly believe that when women are empowered, institutions become stronger and society progresses. Dr. Angela Ajala’s appointment is a clear demonstration of that reality,” she stated.

The BPW President further described Dr. Ajala as a distinguished past National President whose impact within the organisation remains enduring, noting that her leadership inspired and mentored many women to pursue excellence, confidence, and purposeful leadership.

She expressed confidence that the new Executive Secretary would bring innovation, professionalism, and transformational leadership to the administration of the Commission, while sustaining advocacy for inclusion, equity, and opportunities within Nigeria’s education sector.

Highlighting the strategic importance of the NCCE, she observed that the Commission oversees more than 200 accredited Colleges of Education across federal, state, and private ownership, serving millions of students nationwide and playing a central role in the training of teachers for Nigeria’s basic education system.

She also noted that Dr. Ajala’s appointment comes at a crucial period in the nation’s educational development, amid ongoing reforms aimed at strengthening teacher education, expanding access to tertiary education, integrating digital learning, promoting entrepreneurship, and repositioning Colleges of Education to meet 21st-century realities.

Responding, Dr. Angela Ajala charged women to embrace continuous learning, capacity building, and self-development as essential tools for personal growth and professional relevance in a rapidly evolving global environment.

She specifically encouraged members of BPW Nigeria to take advantage of opportunities in emerging fields such as Artificial Intelligence, Emotional Intelligence, entrepreneurship, agriculture, and digital innovation.

According to her, women must intentionally invest in acquiring modern skills capable of enhancing their confidence, competitiveness, and leadership capacity.

Dr. Ajala stressed the importance of developing strong communication and personal branding skills, particularly through the use of elevator pitches, which she described as a powerful strategy that significantly contributed to her professional advancement.

She explained that refining her elevator pitch over the years enabled her to confidently engage highly placed personalities and decision-makers whenever opportunities presented themselves.

“Whenever I meet important personalities, I know how to introduce myself, express my value, and present what I stand for. That skill helped me greatly in my journey,” she said.

The NCCE Executive Secretary further encouraged women to properly position and market themselves through platforms such as LinkedIn and other social media channels, while learning how to build partnerships, sustain relationships, and expand professional networks.

She described BPW Nigeria as a life-changing platform that exposed her to opportunities, mentorship, and leadership experiences that contributed immensely to her personal and professional growth.

“BPW gave me opportunities and exposure I had never experienced before. It helped me upgrade myself, learn more, refine my communication skills, and become who I am today,” she stated.

Dr. Ajala revealed that she has also taught her children the importance of communication skills and elevator pitches, emphasizing that women should deliberately transfer such knowledge and confidence-building abilities to younger generations.

She reaffirmed her strong commitment to BPW Nigeria, describing the organisation as dear to her heart and commending its continued role in empowering women and promoting professional excellence.

She urged members to remain committed to learning, self-improvement, global exposure, and economic empowerment, stressing that women can achieve remarkable success when they intentionally develop themselves and seize opportunities.

The visit concluded with goodwill messages, prayers for a successful tenure, and renewed commitment by BPW Nigeria to supporting women’s leadership, education, and national development.