Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Prof. Tijjani Muhammad-Bande, has canvassed a comprehensive re-imagining of leadership training at the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), including a review of its curriculum and learning methods.
 
Delivering the keynote at a two-day Stakeholders’ Conference with nominators of participants for the Senior Executive Course (SEC) and other strategic partners, yesterday, at the State House Auditorium, Abuja, Muhammad-Bande urged the institute to reassess its mandate and align more closely with national aspirations.
 
He proposed a stronger emphasis on interactive lectures, deeper engagement in study group work, and better coordination of study tours to avoid duplication and delays. 
 
The envoy also expressed concerns over allegations of ghostwritten projects, suggesting alternatives for participants less inclined towards academic research.
 
On the nomination process, Muhammad-Bande recommended selecting officers at the deputy-director level with at least three years left in service to ensure maximum value from the programme. He stressed that funding for NIPSS should remain primarily a national responsibility rather than the heavy dependence on paid programmes.
 
“Leadership training at NIPSS must align with our constitutional and policy aspirations of building a free and democratic society, a just and egalitarian nation, and a land of bright opportunities for all citizens,” the diplomat said.
 
In his remarks, Vice President Kashim Shettima charged the NIPSS to strengthen its collaboration with government institutions, the private sector, and international partners to sharpen its role in Nigeria’s development.
 
Represented by his Special Adviser on Economic Affairs, Dr. Tope Fasua, the Vice President said the institute must remain “a listening institution” that reforms continually to meet the country’s leadership and policy needs.
 
He emphasised that while inclusivity in nominations was welcome, excellence and discipline must not be compromised. Earlier in his welcome address, NIPSS Director-General, Prof. Ayo Omotayo, highlighted the importance of structured engagement with stakeholders. 
He stated that the quality and strategic alignment of nominees remain central to the SEC’s impact.