NILDS Will Become Global Intellectual Hub For Democracy- Sulaiman

The Director-General of the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS), Prof. Abubakar Sulaiman, has declared his ambition to transform the institute into the world’s leading intellectual hub for democracy, legislative research and governance.

Sulaiman made the declaration  in Abuja during the commemoration of his seventh anniversary as Director-General of the institute, where he highlighted the milestones recorded under his administration and outlined his vision for the future of NILDS.

Speaking during a fireside chat, the former Minister of National Planning said he envisions the institute serving not only the Nigerian Parliament but also legislatures across Africa and democratic institutions worldwide.

“I see NILDS serving political actors across the world. I want NILDS to become the intellectual hub of democracy, not only for Africa but globally,” he said.

According to him, his administration has prioritised institutional development, staff welfare, research excellence and legislative capacity building, positioning NILDS among Africa’s leading institutions for democratic governance.

“I have invested in strengthening research, expanding academic programmes and improving staff welfare because every worker contributes meaningfully to the institute’s growth and institutional excellence,” Sulaiman said.

He stressed that support staff, including drivers and other non-academic employees, deserve equal recognition, noting that institutional success is built on collective commitment rather than individual accomplishments.

The Director-General disclosed that many non-academic staff members had been supported to pursue higher education under his leadership.

“Before I came on board, non-academic staff rarely pursued higher education. Today, many have earned doctoral degrees because we deliberately removed unnecessary institutional barriers,” he said.

Sulaiman also urged young Nigerians to actively participate in politics and democratic governance, arguing that meaningful reforms can only be achieved through constructive civic engagement.

“If you refuse to participate in the political process, you cannot continually condemn those making decisions. Democracy demands resilience, participation and responsible civic engagement,” he said.

Reflecting on his leadership journey, he recalled his days as a student union leader, saying active participation in leadership created opportunities that shaped his career.

He advised his eventual successor to consolidate the institute’s achievements and continue strengthening its capacity to serve legislatures within and outside Nigeria.

Sulaiman noted that legislatures from Ghana, The Gambia, Somalia and South Africa increasingly recognise NILDS as a preferred destination for legislative capacity-building programmes.

Former Senator Shehu Sani, who delivered the keynote lecture titled “Strengthening the Legislature Through Capacity Building: A Decadal Assessment of the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies,” commended Sulaiman for transforming the institute into a nationally recognised centre for legislative research and democratic development.

“The Professor has transformed this institute, made it result-oriented and strengthened parliament through research, innovation, partnerships and intellectual leadership,” Sani said.

He noted that the institute had expanded its relevance beyond lawmakers to the wider Nigerian public through research, training and policy engagement.

Sani urged aspiring politicians to take advantage of NILDS’ research resources, publications and mentorship programmes, describing the institute as the engine room of Nigeria’s parliament.

He also challenged Nigerian youths to participate actively in politics rather than limiting their engagement to social media.

“You cannot take political power from the comment section,” he said.

The former senator observed that Nigeria’s political parties shared largely similar ideological orientations despite their political rivalry and urged citizens to appreciate the country’s contributions to democracy, peacekeeping and the liberation of African nations.

“Nigeria has sacrificed immensely for democracy, freedom and African liberation. We should know our history and reject narratives that diminish our country’s contributions,” he said.

Sani maintained that Nigeria possesses abundant human and natural resources, stressing that visionary leadership and national sacrifice remain essential for sustainable development.

He also encouraged Sulaiman to sustain NILDS’ youth engagement initiatives, describing the institute as “a factory where future leaders are prepared to transform Nigeria responsibly.”

As part of the anniversary celebration, a book chronicling the history, achievements and transformation of NILDS over the past seven years was unveiled.

Reviewing the publication, NILDS consultant Dr. Adeyemi Fajingbesi described the book as a testament to Nigeria’s democratic resilience, documenting the institute’s evolution in legislative support, capacity building and policy research.

According to him, the publication preserves the institute’s institutional memory and serves as a valuable resource for scholars, legislators, policymakers and students interested in democratic governance and legislative development.

Fajingbesi traced NILDS’ evolution from the Policy Analysis and Research Project established in 2003 to what he described as Africa’s premier legislative institution, strengthened through research, training, innovation and strategic partnerships in support of democratic governance.