NIPSS DG lists essential ingredients for good governance

The Director-General, National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), Kuru, Plateau State, Prof. Ayo Omotayo, has listed strategic leadership, economy and security as the vital ingredients for good governance.

Omotayo disclosed this during the NIPSS maiden Distinguished Alumni Lecture Series at the Main Auditorium, Directorate of Studies, NIPSS, before Course 44 of the institute and respected guests.

He further said the new programme was captured within the frame of activities planned upon his resumption of duty as DG for integration into the institute’s various directorates’ plans for the future.

From the series, NIPSS intends to tap from its great products’ wealth of knowledge.

“This is of utmost importance if we are to maintain our stance as the nation’s foremost think-thank,” he said.

The DG hinted that the four thematic areas arrived at equally gave rise to the theme of the inaugural lecture, ‘Good Governance and the Consolidation of Democracy in Nigeria: Issues and Challenges.’

He appreciated the resource persons for the lecture, adding: “It is pertinent to state that to qualify to be a resource person for these lecture series, such persons must not only be alumnus/alumna of the institute, but must also be specialist or a practitioner in the thematic area for the proposed lecture.

“Additionally, the person must possess an accomplished and proven track record on the subject area. I, therefore, commend our resource persons for distinguishing themselves out of the so many persons considered by meeting these eligibility criteria.”

Urging the physical and virtual audience to contribute constructively and positively to the discourse, he tasked the staff of the Directorate of Research to pay utmost attention to the proceedings and future lectures, and come up with policy briefs the institute would forward to appropriate quarters.

The DG, Michael Imodu National Institute for Labour Studies (MINILS) and Lead Presenter at the 2022 Distinguished Alumni Association National Institute (AANI), Issa Aremu, suggested that NIPSS, in collaboration with AANI, should organise a centenary celebration of political parties formation in Nigeria from 1921 to 2022 because Herbert Macaulay formed the first political party in Nigeria in 1921.

Delivering his 16-page paper on ‘Good Governance and the Consolidation of Democracy in Nigeria: Issues and Challenges’, Aremu said it would be good for NIPSS to use the centenary celebration to do the Strength, Weakness, Opportunity and Threats (SWOT) analysis on the 18 political parties in Nigeria because civilian democrats fought for the country’s return to democratic rule.