Dr Angela Ajala, a seasoned education administrator with more than three decades of experience in the education and training sector, has been appointed as the Executive Secretary of the National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE).
Her appointment was announced by the Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, on March 12, 2026, during the inauguration of newly appointed heads of two federal tertiary institutions and leadership of key education agencies at the Federal Ministry of Education headquarters in Abuja. Ajala was inaugurated alongside Professor Adeola Oshikoya, the newly appointed Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University of Science and Technology, Epe, Lagos State, and Professor Nosiru Onibon, the pioneer Rector of the Bola Ahmed Tinubu Federal Polytechnic, Abuja.
The appointments form part of the Federal Government’s efforts to strengthen governance and leadership in Nigeria’s higher education system, particularly in institutions responsible for training teachers and advancing technological education.
Ajala brings extensive experience in education management and policy development to her new role. She has spent over three decades working in the education sector and has served as the Executive Director of Ladela Schools since January 2004. In that position, she oversaw the development and management of a major private education group while also contributing to broader educational initiatives in Nigeria.
She holds both a Bachelor of Arts and a Master of Arts degree in English from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, and has undertaken professional training in several fields including business innovation and strategy, leadership, counselling, and agriculture.
Beyond her work in school administration, Ajala has played significant roles in professional and advocacy organisations within the education and business sectors. She was instrumental in establishing the National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools (NAPPS) and served on the committee that drafted the association’s constitution in 2004. She currently sits on the board of the Federal Capital Territory chapter of the association and has mentored numerous school administrators across the country.
Ajala has also served as a member of the governing board of the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), giving her experience in national-level education regulation and policy oversight. Her background in this area is expected to complement the work of the NCCE, which regulates colleges of education and oversees teacher training programmes across Nigeria.
In addition to her education sector engagements, Ajala is active in several professional and business networks. She is an advisory board member of the Enterprise Development Centre at Pan-Atlantic University, Lagos, and has previously served as president of Business and Professional Women (BPW), an international organisation focused on promoting the professional and leadership development of women. She is also the national president of the African Women Entrepreneurship Programme (Nigeria Chapter), an initiative that supports women-owned businesses and promotes cross-border trade.
Ajala is also an author and has written two widely circulated books on education and student development: The School Guide – How to Run a Great School and The Journey Begins – Things to Know Before Going to Higher Institution. Her work as a mentor and education advocate has earned her numerous national and international awards for contributions to educational development and socio-economic advancement.
The NCCE, which she now heads, is the regulatory body responsible for setting standards and coordinating academic programmes in Nigeria’s colleges of education. The commission plays a central role in shaping teacher education and ensuring the quality of training provided to teachers across the country.
Ajala’s appointment comes at a time when the Federal Government says it is prioritising reforms in teacher education and expanding access to quality tertiary education as part of broader efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s education system.
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