“We look your way in determining solutions to several issues as well as your recommendations in charting specific paths to achieving these solutions”
By Uzor Odigbo
President Muhammadu Buhari has charged the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS) to surpass the best think-tank amongst policy Institutes in the world.
The President made the charge during the graduation ceremony of the Senior Executive Course No 44, 2022 at NIPSS, Kuru, Plateau State.
The President who was represented by the Minister of Transportation, Mu’azu Jaji Sambo, said he was delighted to be at the ceremony because of the historic role the national policy think-tank has played in people’s lives and the potentials it has to do better for the nation.
The President revealed that he was particularly impressed as the graduation loudly attests to the consistency that NIPSS stands for.
“This is an integral aspect of the dreams of the founding fathers of the Institute. It is also an assignment in which the Institute has never failed no matter the challenges, not even in the era of COVID-19.
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“While i congratulate the Institute for being resiliently consistent, i also wish to remind the Institute of the other aspects of your mandate, which is to evolve ideas, new techniques, skills, policies, and new directions to guide policy making at the highest level.
“In other words, you need to follow the global dynamics in policies and guide the nation on the application of global best practices.
“I use the opportunity offered by this special occasion to challenge the National Institute to strive to be at par or even surpass the best think-tank amongst policy Institutes in the world. We will do our best in supporting you to fulfill this charge and other mandates,” he said.
The President commended NIPSS and described the Institute as a strong and dependable ally of the government.
He said NIPSS’ effort at engaging the best brains on critical national issues hasn’t gone unnoticed just like it’s submissions on the issues have also proved to be very useful in resolving many issues.
“At this juncture, let me place on record that this administration, like the ones before it, find in NIPSS a strong and dependable ally.
“Your submissions on course themes every year has either evolved a new policy addressing a major national issue or resulted to a review of existing policies to accommodate current realities.
“We look your way in determining solutions to several issues as well as your recommendations in charting specific paths to achieving these solutions. I urge you to come up with more innovations, be more committed and remain focused on your mission of a better society,” he said.
Buhari further gave assurances that the government will continue to support NIPSS towards achieving sustainable development as a nation.
“As a responsible and responsive government, our foremost desire is to provide good governance at both the national and sub-national levels.
“Our very strong desire is for all government interventions to cascade to the local levels including permeating all strata’s of society.
“This informed the choice of the course theme for this year. It underscores our trust in you as a strong ally in our efforts towards sustainable development as a nation.”
