APC Inaugurates Governing Council Of Progressive Institute

The All Progressives Congress (APC) on Monday inaugurated the governing council of The Progressive Institute, the think tank and the intellectual resource center of the ruling party.

The council has the APC national chairman, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda as chairman; national secretary of the party, Senator Ajibola Basiru; national legal adviser, Murtala Aliyu Kankia, Professor Chris Kwaja, Professor Dogara Matoh, Muhammad Bulama, Professor Ben Naanen, Chijioke Udoaka are members while Director-General of the institute, Dr Lanre Adebayo is member/secretary.

Inaugurating the governing council, Yilwatda described the development as a major milestone in the institutional strengthening of the APC and the Nigerian political landscape.

He noted that the inauguration concluded the process of establishing the governance structure of the Institute, which was unveiled on September 6, 2024, and positions TPI as the intellectual engine and policy think tank of the party.

According to Yilwatda, the institute was established at the instance of President Bola Tinubu, GCFR, as part of a deliberate effort to deepen ideological clarity within the APC, strengthen research capacity, and promote issue-based politics not only within the ruling party but across Nigeria’s entire party system.

Yilwatda emphasised that the President’s vision is to nurture a more resilient, competitive, and policy-focused democracy anchored on strong political institutions rather than personalities.

He added that the inauguration of the Governing Council marks the beginning of a new phase for the Institute, one focused on driving governance reforms, leadership development, capacity building, and evidence-based policymaking that will enhance democratic governance and national development.

Yilwatda noted that the Institute has been duly registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) as a Company Limited by Guarantee and has received approvals from the Federal Ministry of Education and the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE).

He emphasised that the APC, despite being the ruling party, ensured strict compliance with all statutory and regulatory requirements to guarantee TPI’s independence, credibility, and sustainability as a non-state institution, underscoring the party’s commitment to the rule of law.

Yilwatda outlined the core statutory functions of the Institute to include research and publication on public policy, democratisation, governance, and leadership; organisation of workshops, national and international conferences; collaboration with relevant APC organs on political strategy and extensive capacity-building programmes.

The APC national chairman described the governing council as the highest decision-making organ of the Institute, stressing that its role is fundamental to realizing the vision of building a world-class political foundation comparable to the best global institutions in its category.

He explained that his position as Chairman of the Governing Council was a deliberate decision by the APC to ensure that TPI enjoys sustained policy focus and strategic attention at the highest level of party leadership.

Yilwatda assured that the President, the National Working Committee, and leaders of the APC nationwide are fully committed to supporting the Institute.

He expressed appreciation to President Tinubu for his foresight in establishing what he described as Nigeria’s premier political foundation, and also acknowledged the contributions of his predecessor, Dr Abdullahi Ganduje, and other stakeholders who laid the groundwork for the Institute.

The chairman appealed to party elders, governors, and elected officials to actively support TPI by patronizing it for research, training, and consultancy services, stressing that the Institute must be fully integrated into the party’s governance and policy ecosystem.

Also speaking, director general of the institute, Adebayo, highlighted milestones achieved since the Institute’s unveiling, including organisational registration, compliance with key regulatory bodies, implementation of capacity-building and skill acquisition programmes across several states, and engagement with international partners such as the European Union.

He reaffirmed management’s commitment, in collaboration with the Governing Council, to deliver on the vision of the APC in establishing a world-class institution that empowers youth, strengthens governance, and positions Nigeria competitively in the global political and policy arena.

End.