Education
Firms reiterate commitment to growth through effective evaluation system – EnviroNews
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Cloneshouse Nigeria Limited (CNL) and Cloneshouse Foundation for African Development (CFAD) have reaffirmed their commitment to transforming the Monitoring, Evaluation, Research, and Learning (MERL) ecosystem to accelerate development in Nigeria and across Africa.
The groups indicated their commitment to ongoing support for institutions and professionals in enhancing the competencies, systems, and practices necessary for generating credible evidence and translating learning into actionable results. They disclosed that this will be achieved through technical workshops, research presentations, and policy discussions.
Speaking at the 2026 Nigeria Evaluation Conference, hosted by the Nigerian Association of Evaluators (NAE) from Monday, November 2, 2026, to Wednesday, November 4, 2026, in Abuja, Oludotun Babayemi, the director of evidence and intelligence, CNL, emphasised African ownership of evaluation processes and the need for institutions to translate findings into measurable improvements.
The theme of the event, “Evaluation as a National Asset,” according to him, reflects his organisation’s integrated approach to strengthening and promoting responsible technological innovation, developing local evaluation expertise, enhancing institutional accountability, and ensuring that evidence informs both policy and development decisions.
“Through its technical advisory services and the Cloneshouse Foundation’s capacity-development programmes, the organisation continues to support systems and practices necessary for generating credible evidence and translating learning into results,” Babayemi asserts.
His presentation on generative AI and AI agents for evaluators examined the practical applications of artificial intelligence in evaluation workflows. This included aspects such as evidence synthesis, document analysis, knowledge management, and reporting. Additionally, it addressed the responsible adoption of AI, emphasising data protection, source verification, and the critical need to maintain human professional judgment.
Princess Odey, representing the Cloneshouse Foundation at the event, shared findings from the Cloneshouse Internship Programme (CIP). Her presentation underscored the significance of structured mentorship, practical assignments, and professional exposure in shaping the next generation of evaluators.
Furthermore, Odey’s paper revealed that 37 out of 64 evaluated alumni from 11 completed cohorts – approximately 58 percent – have moved into active professional roles within the evidence ecosystem.
“It also reinforced the need for stronger institutional investment and partnerships to create meaningful career pathways for emerging professionals,” she added.
Shittu Sulaimon, the MEL officer at Cloneshouse, emphasised the importance of actively involving young people in evaluation activities. He also highlighted the need for structured mentorship and access to paid professional opportunities.
Onochie Mokwunye, director of MEL and strategic partnership Cloneshouse, presented findings from the review of Nigeria’s Youth Employment Action Plan (NIYEAP) 2021-2024.
His presentation, which drew from over 15,000 youth survey responses, document reviews, and stakeholder consultations, emphasised gaps in institutional coordination, shortcomings in monitoring systems, and the significance of meaningful youth participation and increased private-sector.
This year’s meeting drew together assessment experts, scholars, government representatives, development organisations, and rising practitioners. They examined how evaluation can help improve national growth and institutional accountability.
By Etta Michael Bisong, Abuja
