By Kehinde Jacobs
The Electoral Institute (TEI) has concluded its capacity building workshop for Heads of Departments on Effective Management of the 2027 General Election, with a charge to participants to translate the knowledge gained into practical, well-structured and measurable activities essential for the successful conduct of the polls.
The workshop for the second batch of participants concluded on Saturday, November 14, 2026, at the Villa Park Hotel and Suites, Gudu, Abuja, after a three-day intensive programme.
The second set of participants for the three-day programme were Heads of Voter Education and Publicity, Planning and Monitoring, Finance and Accounts, and General Administration and Procurement from the thirty-six INEC State offices and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
The training is part of INEC’s deliberate efforts to build the capacity of its critical staff and strengthen institutional preparedness ahead of the 2027 general elections, which Nigerians at home and abroad are looking forward to with high expectations.
Declaring the second set of the programme open, the Acting Director-General of the Electoral Institute (TEI), Professor Ibrahim Sani, tasked the participants to translate knowledge gained into practical, well-structured, and measurable activities essential to the successful conduct of elections.
Prof. Sani stressed that training alone is not enough, and that the true value of the workshop would be measured by how effectively participants apply what they have learnt in their respective states and departments.
He urged the Heads of Departments to go back to their duty posts with renewed commitment, professionalism and a clear plan for implementing the lessons learnt, particularly in the areas of planning, voter education, finance management and general administration.
According to him, the 2027 general election will demand a high level of coordination, transparency, accountability and efficiency from all departments of the Commission, and no department can afford to work in isolation.
He noted that Voter Education and Publicity, Planning and Monitoring, Finance and Accounts, and General Administration and Procurement are all interlinked, and that effective management of the election will depend on how well the departments collaborate, share information and support one another.
Also present at the event were the Directors of Voter Education and Publicity, Human Resources, Gender and Inclusivity, Finance and Accounts, and Audit, who gave goodwill messages.
In their goodwill messages, the directors underscored the importance of capacity building to the success of INEC’s mandate, and commended TEI for organising the workshop at a critical time in the electoral calendar.
They urged participants to take the training seriously and to see themselves as key drivers of the Commission’s preparations for 2027, noting that the credibility of the elections will largely depend on the competence and integrity of staff at the state and national levels.
The directors also emphasised the need for inclusivity, gender sensitivity and accountability in the management of election activities, particularly in voter education, deployment of materials, management of funds and procurement processes.
Participants at the workshop were taken through various sessions designed to enhance their managerial, planning and operational skills, as well as their understanding of the legal framework, timelines and innovations for the 2027 general elections.
The sessions also covered effective communication, stakeholder engagement, monitoring and evaluation, financial prudence, and administrative best practices for election management.
Our paper gathered that with the conclusion of the second batch, TEI is expected to continue its series of capacity building programmes for other categories of staff across the Commission, as part of its mandate to provide continuous training and research support for credible elections in Nigeria.
Participants expressed appreciation to the Commission and TEI for the opportunity, and pledged to put the knowledge gained into practice for a free, fair, credible and well-managed 2027 general election.