he 2025 National MERL Symposium and Training, organised by the Nigerian Association of Evaluators (NAE), concluded in Abuja with strong commitments from government institutions and development partners to advance Monitoring, Evaluation, Research and Learning (MERL) practice across Nigeria.
Delivering a message at the opening of the Symposium, the Honourable Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, H.E. Senator Abubakar Atiku Bagudu CON, reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to strengthening national monitoring and evaluation systems. He emphasised that effective M&E is a cornerstone of national development, essential for improving project outcomes, enhancing transparency in public expenditure, and ensuring that government policies deliver measurable impact. The Minister noted that the ongoing review of the national M&E policy aims to consolidate accountability frameworks and embed evidence-based decision-making across ministries, departments and agencies.
Another major highlight of the event was the renewed commitment from Cloneshouse, a leading evaluation and learning consultancy. Representing the organisation, Mr. Onochie Mokwunye, Director of Strategic Partnerships and Programmes, reiterated Cloneshouse’s dedication to supporting institutions and young evaluators nationwide. He announced plans to expand the firm’s capacity-building initiatives, mentorship programmes, and internship opportunities. He also noted that limited funding, insufficient exposure, and restricted platforms have held back young evaluators, pledging that Cloneshouse will continue working to bridge these gaps through targeted developmental support.
The Federal Civil Service Commission (FCSC) also made important contributions at the Symposium. Present at the event was the Chairman of the Commission, Prof. Tunji Olaopa, who highlighted ongoing reforms aimed at institutionalising M&E practice across the public service. He explained that the Commission is developing standardised job descriptions for M&E officers, building competency frameworks aligned with global best practices, and creating structured career pathways for evaluation professionals. These reforms are expected to elevate M&E from an ad-hoc function to a recognised professional discipline within Nigeria’s civil service architecture.
In addition to government representatives and evaluation firms, the Symposium attracted participation from key international and corporate partners. Organisations such as Auricle, UNICEF, and International IDEA were present and actively engaged, reaffirming their support as partners in strengthening Nigeria’s evaluation ecosystem. Their involvement underscored the global relevance of the conversations held and the shared commitment to advancing transparency, accountability, and evidence-driven development across the country.
The Symposium further underscored the growing collaboration between government agencies, private evaluation firms, academia, and development partners. With renewed political will and stronger technical partnerships, stakeholders expressed optimism that Nigeria is moving toward a more robust, technology-driven, and professional evaluation ecosystem.
Overall, the 2025 NAE National MERL Symposium marks a significant step toward institutionalising evaluation as a central pillar of governance, accountability, and national development. The commitments announced are expected to create new opportunities for practitioners—particularly young evaluators—while improving transparency and effectiveness across Nigeria’s development programmes.