Executive Summary
The National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) embarked on a structured workforce induction programme to onboard newly recruited staff across its headquarters and multiple institutes nationwide. Recognizing the need to align new personnel with its operational culture, governance framework, and regulatory obligations, NASENI partnered with iCentra to design and deliver a comprehensive three-day induction and orientation workshop.
This case study chronicles the programme’s planning, execution, outcomes, and lessons learned, highlighting how iCentra facilitated institutional alignment, regulatory compliance, and workforce integration for NASENI.
Background
Organizational Context
NASENI is a Federal Government agency mandated to promote industrialization in Nigeria through science, technology, and engineering infrastructure development. With an expanding workforce across its headquarters and regional institutes, NASENI required a structured approach to ensure newly recruited staff understood the Agency’s mandate, culture, and operational expectations.
The Agency sought a standardized induction programme to:
- Facilitate seamless integration of new employees into the organization
- Communicate NASENI’s vision, mission, and organizational structure
- Educate staff on public service ethics, financial regulations, and statutory obligations
- Align staff understanding of workplace policies, occupational health, and safety
Initial Challenge
Prior to the intervention, NASENI faced several challenges in onboarding new staff effectively:
- Lack of a formalized induction process to integrate recruits across headquarters and outstation institutes
- Need to impart knowledge on the Agency’s mandate, culture, and values to staff with diverse professional backgrounds
- Requirement to educate participants on public service regulations, pension schemes, NHIS, NHF, and occupational safety
- Large-scale logistics and coordination needed for 250+ participants across multiple institutes
- Ensuring active participation, engagement, and knowledge retention within a short three-day timeframe
Project Approach
Partnership with iCentra
NASENI engaged iCentra to design, coordinate, and facilitate the induction and orientation programme. The project was executed in three phases:
Phase 1: Needs Assessment & Programme Design
- Reviewed NASENI’s operational framework, organizational structure, and compliance requirements
- Designed a curriculum covering institutional mandate, governance, ethics, service conditions, pension administration, occupational health and safety, and financial regulations
- Developed structured facilitation materials and participant guides
Phase 2: Programme Implementation
- Delivered a three-day induction workshop at NASENI Headquarters Technology Orientation Centre, Abuja
- Engaged expert facilitators, including former directors and senior officials from the public service, to lead sessions
- Coordinated attendance, logistics, and session scheduling for 252 participants from NASENI Headquarters, SEDI Minna, PEEMADI Okene, SOMMEDI Nassarawa, AMEDI Lafia, NSEL Karshi, and AFTI Kaduna
- Delivered interactive technical sessions with hands-on exercises and Q&A for each module
Phase 3: Evaluation & Formal Integration
- Conducted participant evaluation to assess course quality, facilitation effectiveness, and overall programme impact
- Facilitated formal induction ceremony, including administration of the statutory Oath of Secrecy
- Issued Certificates of Participation to reinforce institutional integration
Key Workshop Modules
- NASENI Background, Mandates, and Organizational Structure
- Chain of Command and Span of Control
- Pension Administration: Contributory Pension Scheme & Pension Reform Act 2014
- Code of Ethics and Conduct in the Public Service
- NASENI Conditions of Service: Strategic Guide for Employees
- Understanding Financial Regulations and Financial Responsibility
- Occupational Health and Safety in the Workplace
- National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) and National Housing Fund (NHF)
Outcomes and Impact
Organizational Benefits
- Successfully onboarded 255 newly recruited staff across headquarters and institutes
- Established a standardized, replicable induction framework for future recruitment cycles
- Improved staff understanding of NASENI’s mission, governance, and operational procedures
- Enhanced awareness of public service ethics, compliance, and statutory obligations
- Strengthened workforce alignment, cohesion, and engagement
Training Evaluation
- Course Materials: Excellent (5/5)
- Facilitation Quality: Very Good (4/5)
- Overall Programme Delivery: Very Good (4/5)
Institutional Integration
- Participants formally inducted through administration of the statutory Oath of Secrecy
- Certificates of participation awarded by the Acting Executive Vice Chairman
- Staff equipped with knowledge and tools to contribute effectively to NASENI’s operations
Continuous Improvement
iCentra’s structured approach created a foundation for ongoing workforce development at NASENI. The programme model is now positioned for replication across NASENI’s other regional institutes (HEDI Kano, PEDI Ilesa, and SEDI Enugu), ensuring continuity, consistency, and quality in staff onboarding nationwide.
Conclusion
The collaboration between NASENI and iCentra successfully addressed the challenges of large-scale onboarding and workforce integration. By combining curriculum design, expert facilitation, and operational coordination, iCentra delivered an induction programme that not only informed participants but embedded them into the organizational culture, operational processes, and public service compliance standards.
This initiative strengthened NASENI’s human capital foundation, enabling the Agency to maximize productivity, compliance, and institutional cohesion as it continues to advance science and engineering infrastructure across Nigeria.
Key Lessons Learned
- Structured induction programmes significantly improve workforce integration and engagement.
- Expert facilitation enhances credibility and knowledge retention for complex public service modules.
- Large-scale onboarding requires meticulous coordination, attendance management, and logistical planning.
- Continuous evaluation and feedback ensure programme quality and inform future iterations.
Future Outlook
NASENI plans to replicate this induction model across its regional institutes to onboard new staff consistently, reinforce institutional culture, and support workforce readiness for ongoing expansion and strategic initiatives. iCentra remains a key partner in delivering future induction and workforce development programmes for NASENI.
