) Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, has urged participants at an executive leadership course to use the opportunity to reflect on Nigeria’s challenges.
Akpabio made the call at a four-day International Executive Leadership Course organised by the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS) for its Governing Council’s members in Marrakech, Morocco.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Centre for Advanced Executive Education Programme (CAEEP) of NILDS organised the course focusing on strategic leadership and institutional readiness.
A release issued by NILDS on Wednesday in Abuja stated that Akpabio made the call in his opening remarks at the event.
He said the four-day course was well conceived and would promote strategic leadership discussions for national development.
Represented by Sen. Victor Umeh (Anambra Central), Akpabio, said that the programme provided participants an opportunity to temporarily leave Abuja, concentrate, reflect, and develop strategic solutions to challenges confronting Nigeria.
“It is good that we take time away from home to concentrate, reflect and engage in strategic thinking on how to offer solutions,” Akpabio said.
He noted that Nigeria, like other developing countries, faced several challenges, stressing that the country’s situation was not the worst globally.
“Ours is not the worst, but every nation will continue to seek solutions to the challenges confronting its people and institutions,” he added.
Akpabio said the National Assembly remained a major platform for addressing Nigeria’s challenges through legislation, programme planning, administration and other measures.
He urged the participants to use the leadership course to develop practical ideas that could contribute to resolving Nigeria’s developmental challenges and strengthening national institutions.
In his welcome remarks, the Director-General of NILDS, Prof. Abubakar Sulaiman described the programme as a platform for participants to think, reflect, learn, interrogate and prepare.
Sulaiman stated that the course was designed to strengthen strategic leadership, institutional capacity and readiness for excellence in Nigeria’s legislative and democratic development.
He emphasised the Governing Council’s role as NILDS’ highest policy organ, noting that its decisions had implications for the Institute and National Assembly’s constitutional responsibilities.
According to him, technological advancement, accountability demands, security challenges and artificial intelligence required institutions to adopt innovative leadership approaches capable of anticipating change and remaining relevant.
Sulaiman said effective institutions required professionalism, innovation, institutional memory, continuous capacity development, public engagement, technology utilisation and adaptability, irrespective of differing political realities.
He stressed the need for NILDS to commence preparations ahead of the 2027 general elections, particularly for legislators’ induction, orientation and institutional continuity.
According to him, legislators needed adequate knowledge of parliamentary procedures, legislative processes, oversight responsibilities and constitutional frameworks to effectively discharge their responsibilities after assuming office.
“Institutional readiness cannot be achieved at the last minute. It requires foresight, planning, coordination and strategic leadership,” Sulaiman added.(NAN)
