NITAD honours human resource expert, Janefrancis Duru, over e-voting, journals, other innovations
By Ishaya Ibrahim
Hard work, it is said, comes with reward. Such was the case on Tuesday, April 30, when the Nigerian Institute of Training and Development (NITAD) honoured its former Vice President, Dr. Janefrancis Duru, a human resource management and administration expert over her contributions to the growth of the institute.
NITAD is a professional body of learning and development practitioners who promote better utilization of human abilities and potentials through training.
Dr. Duru, Director, Shared Services, ACI Holdings, a group of companies, and former Treasurer of NITAD, received a standing ovation from members when NITAD President, Mrs Ayoade Abike Igbeyi, reeled out her contributions to the institute.
The professional body honoured her over introduction of electronic voting to NITAD elections. That innovation allows members from any part of the globe to vote their preferred candidates into elective offices.
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The president said of the innovation: “In 2022, we had the maiden edition of our e-voting, the first time ever. Before, you have to travel to Lagos if you have the means, just to come and vote. Dr Janefrancis Duru broke the camels back. The e-voting she introduced was something that we had in our 2010 strategy paper but it never came to pass until 2022.”
Mrs. Igbeyi also said Dr. Duru has been the backbone of NITAD journals, describing her as the giant on whose shoulder they stood to produce the last edition.
Hear her: “She holds the key to our publications. She is a giant that we stood on her shoulder to get our last publication out.
“I want to call on all of us. It’s time for action. Those of us who have PhDs, or even if your PhD is still in view, please send whatever you need to send. We need to have our publication. We don’t want it to die. This is the woman that has been holding the key and we want someone that will also understudy her as a back-up so that when she crosses to life member (age 70), somebody will carry on.”
Reacting to the honour and ovation showered on her at the event, Dr Duru said it made her happy.
She said: “I must say I’m happy today that my effort did not go unrecognized. I served the institute in various capacities as they mentioned. As first vice president, as the national treasurer. I have served at several committees of the council and I’m still an adviser to several committees of the council.
“I started the journal in 2018 and it is still ongoing. I published the first standard Institute annual report. By the grace of God I led us into e-voting which started last two years. I have paid my dues and I am happy my efforts are recognized today.”
Dr. Duru, who is married to TheNiche Executive Editor, Emeka Alex Duru, called on members of the Institute to contribute their quota so as to place it at the top among the committee of other professional associations in Nigeria.
