NEI Plus retreat fosters unity amongst staff

The management of Northern Education Initiative Plus with support of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) for the first time, brought together all 109 staff members of the project to attend a three-day team building retreat at the Whispering Palms, Badagry, Lagos State.

The retreat which held from January 8-11, 2019 was an opportunity for all staff members to forge stronger ties amongst themselves, boost efficiency and work productivity and encourage staff to support one another while assuming leadership and being accountable.

It was a time to analyze the successes of the project, reflect on areas that need urgent improvement and collectively resolve to achieve the goal of making one million children read at the end of the project.

The Acting Chief of Party, Nurudeen Lawal, opened the retreat with a charge reminding all staff members on the need for everyone to jointly deliver on the goal of providing access to quality education for children in Bauchi and Sokoto states.

Facilitated by Aktiva Consulting, the retreat provided staff members the opportunity to interact, share ideas and build lasting relationships, bridge gaps, encourage open communication and help staff overcome their fears.

The team bonding activities, games, contests and sessions anchored by Aktiva Consulting’s Lead Facilitator Henry Eyo and his co-facilitator Olumuyiwa Ajayi boosted the confidence level of staff.

According to one of the participants, Geoffrey Peter, Office Manager, NEI Plus, Abuja, the three-day event was impactful and inspiring.

“For me, the staff retreat was one of the best things that ever happened to me since I joined the Creative (NEI Plus Family). I can tell you I took with me so much from the retreat. I now understand that everyone’s strength and opinion count when working as a team,” Peter said.

The Grants Officer, Bauchi, Nanma Drenkat said the retreat was an opportunity for participants to discover their true identities.

“It was a point of reflection of who I was, what I have done, what I need to achieve and who I need to achieve it with. The games played showed me how well each one of us was endowed with potentials, that when given the opportunity will manifest in an ‘aw’ picture. It taught me not to underestimate any member of my team because from there a great idea could emanate. At the end of the retreat I recognized that there was no other name to ring through my mind except NEI PLUS. No Bauchi team, No Abuja team, no Sokoto team, No DC team but NEI PLUS,” he said.

On the last day of the retreat, staff members had the opportunity to learn about the significance of personal leadership to achieving personal and organizational goals. They also visited Badagry Ancient Town, the Slave Port and the Suntan Beach.

In his closing remarks, the ACOP, Nurudeen Lawal, thanked all staff members for attending the three-day retreat and urged everyone to use all the lessons learnt to work together as a team to achieve the goals and objectives of the project.

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