105 NIPSS SEC 48 participants await DSS security clearance, 98 medically fit
2026-02-16 - 15:20
By Gilbert Joseph, Jos Jos — The Director-General of the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies, Ayo Omotayo, has disclosed that 105 participants of the Senior Executive Course (SEC) 48 are awaiting a security clearance report from the Department of State Services, even as 98 participants have been certified medically fit for the programme. Omotayo made the revelation on Monday during the formal inauguration of SEC 48 at the Institute’s campus in Kuru, Jos, Plateau State, describing the ten-month course as a rigorous leadership and policy engagement designed to strengthen the strategic capacity of senior executives across Nigeria’s public and private sectors. “Of the 105 participants, 98 were declared fully medically fit; seven have manageable health concerns and will meet with the Director of Medical Services to determine appropriate interventions,” he said. “The only report we have not received is that of the DSS. Once received, participants will be informed. We have no reason to believe the outcome will be negative.” Omotayo explained that the course aims to deepen policy insight, sharpen strategic thinking, and equip participants with tools to tackle Nigeria’s complex governance and development challenges. The theme for SEC 48, “Orange Economy and Entrepreneurship for Sustainable Development in Nigeria,” underscores the nation’s focus on economic diversification, youth empowerment, and innovation-driven enterprise development. He noted that sectors powered by creativity and intellectual capital hold vast potential for inclusive growth and global competitiveness if supported by enabling policies, innovation incentives, and intellectual property protection. Participants have already undertaken an orientation tour across Plateau State to explore practical applications of the Orange Economy, leveraging the state’s cultural heritage, tourism assets, and creative ecosystem. Omotayo urged participants to maximise the programme by engaging in rigorous research, interdisciplinary collaboration, and constructive policy debates capable of producing implementable recommendations for national development. In a goodwill message, Deputy Governor Josephine Piyo, representing Governor Caleb Mutfwang, highlighted the significance of the creative economy in Nigeria’s development. She described the course theme as timely and strategically aligned with national aspirations for economic renewal, job creation, and inclusive growth. “Creative industries spanning arts, culture, tourism, media, fashion, film, music, and digital innovation hold vast potential to boost GDP, generate employment, empower youths and women, and strengthen national cohesion,” she said. Piyo reaffirmed Plateau State’s commitment to supporting entrepreneurship, innovation, and private sector growth through policies and partnerships that promote evidence-based decision-making and sustainable development.