Tinubu set to lay ideological foundation for Nigeria's politics - Yilwatda
The National Chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, has described the establishment of The Progressive Institute (TPI), the party’s official think-tank, as President Bola Ahmed
The National Chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, has described the establishment of The Progressive Institute (TPI), the party’s official think-tank, as President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s legacy to lay an ideological foundation for Nigeria’s political landscape.
Yilwatda announced this on Monday at the APC National Secretariat in Abuja during the inauguration of a 15-member Governing Council of the Institute. As Chairman of the council, he assured the management of the party’s full commitment to realizing the President’s vision for a world-class institute.
He appealed to party elders, state governors, and party representatives to support the Institute by outsourcing training, research, and consultancy services to it.
"Let me at this point express our leadership’s appreciation to His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, for his vision in establishing this premier political foundation in the country.
"I wish to assure him of our total commitment to ensuring that the President’s desire of a world-class institution is achieved. I also wish to thank my predecessor, His Excellency Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, who is also the former Executive Governor of Kano State, and others for their efforts to establish this great institution."
Assuring the council members and the management of the institute, Yilwatda said: "This was a deliberate decision of the APC to ensure that the Institute gets policy and strategic attention at the highest level of the Party leadership. I want to assure you that the entire leadership of our Party, starting from our National Leader, my good self, all members of the National Working Committee and all APC leaders, are fully committed to give this great institution our full support and attention."
He then outlines the statutory functions of the governing council to include undertaking "research and publication of books/journals on public policy, democratization, good governance, leadership and related subject matters.
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"To organize regular workshops, international and local conferences, national discourses on ideology, governance and related matters.
"Working in collaboration with relevant organs of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to develop and execute the party’s political strategies.
"To undertake capacity building programs in the following areas: Intra-party governance, Leadership, Ideology, Public policy, Institution building, Elections and election related matter, and APC values and identity.
"Provide the platform for robust discussion within the Party, between the Party and the wider Nigerian society.
"To serve as the institutional memory of the APC by documenting all its activities, Party Primaries, policies, and decisions of the Party, especially decisions by the Caucus and National Executive Committee meetings, the Convention, etc."
Director General of TPI, Dr. Lanre Adebayo, assured APC leadership of his management's commitment to set a standard for the Institute.
Adebayo, who is also the secretary of the governing council, said the institute has engaged committed party members as staff, saying, "Any staff that is not a member of the party will be asked to resign."
The Governing Council consists of nine appointed members and six ex officio directors. The appointed members are Professor Nentawe Yilwatda (Chairman), Senator Ajibola Basiru (National Secretary), Professor Mukaila Aliyu-Kankia, Dr. Lanre Adebayo (Member and Secretary), Professor Chris Kwaghe, Professor Dogara Mato, Alhaji Mohamad Bulama, Professor Ben Nanni, and Barr. Chijoke Ndioga. The ex officio directors include the Director of Programs and Training, Director of Legal Services, Director of Administration (Professor Ademola Abbas), Director of Human Resources, and Director of Planning, Staff, and Statistics.
