Abuja: Director-General, National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS), Prof. Abubakar Sulaiman, has emphasized that improved and timely funding of the institute will play a crucial role in strengthening democracy and enhancing naira stability. Sulaiman made this statement during the matriculation ceremony of 244 new students enrolled in the Higher National Diploma and NILDS/UNIBEN Post-graduate programs for the 2024/2025 academic session.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Sulaiman described NILDS as the capacity-building arm for the legislature and other democratic institutions in Nigeria. He highlighted the institute’s pivotal role in enhancing the development of the legislature both within the country and beyond through capacity building. The director-general noted historical disruptions in the growth and development of the legislature during the first, second, and third republics, asserting that the fourth republic offers an opportunity for investment in the legislative growth essential to democracy.
Scientific evidence, as mentioned by Sulaiman, indicates a correlation and bi-directional causal relationship between investment in human capital development and overall national development. He stressed that with increased funding, NILDS aims to complete significant projects, including a 1,000-seater auditorium for seminars on democracy and development. The director-general also emphasized that enhanced funding would further strengthen legislative and democratic institutions through tailored programs such as the Advanced Executive Education Programme (AEEP), which would help reduce reliance on international training.
The institute offers various courses, including Masters in Constitutional Law and Development, Masters in Legislative Studies, Masters in Elections and Party Politics, and several postgraduate diplomas in legislative and parliamentary fields. Sulaiman highlighted the increase in student enrollment from 130 in 2024 to 244 as a testament to the improved quality of academic programs at NILDS, thanks to the support from the National Assembly and the Federal Government.
In his remarks, the Vice-Chancellor of University of Benin (UNIBEN), Prof. Bright Omoregie, urged students to engage meaningfully with faculty and resource persons, emphasizing the core objectives of their programs. Omoregie reiterated the importance of continuous academic discourse aligned with global best practices, emphasizing the role of NILDS in fostering an egalitarian society within a scholarly environment.
The Vice-Chancellor highlighted UNIBEN’s commitment to nurturing individuals worthy of character and learning, in line with its motto ‘Knowledge and Service’. He underscored the institution’s longstanding philosophy of hard work, diligence, invention, discipline, honesty, fairness, equity, and scholarship over the past 50 years.