All Progressives Congress on Monday inaugurated the Governing Council of The Progressive Institute, a policy and research hub established to strengthen ideological development, leadership capacity and strategic governance within the party.
The inauguration, which took place at the party’s National Secretariat in Abuja, marked the completion of the Institute’s governance structure following its unveiling in September 2024.
Speaking at the event, the APC National Chairman, Prof. Nentawe Goshwe Yilwatda, described the Institute as the intellectual backbone of the ruling party, aimed at promoting research-driven politics and deepening democratic governance in the country.
He said the establishment of the Institute was initiated by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as part of efforts to build a more resilient and ideologically grounded political party system in Nigeria.
According to him, the Institute will serve as the APC’s think tank and intellectual resource centre, with responsibility for policy research, leadership training and strategic political development.
“The Institute is the think tank and the intellectual resource centre of our great party, the All Progressives Congress. It was established to strengthen the ideological and research capacity of the APC and encourage a research- and ideology-driven orientation in other political parties in Nigeria,” Yilwatda said.
He added that the Institute had been registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission as a Company Limited by Guarantee and approved by the Federal Ministry of Education and the National Board for Technical Education as a certified training organisation.
Yilwatda said the core responsibilities of the Institute would include policy research and publications, organisation of national and international conferences, development of party strategies, and capacity-building programmes in leadership, intra-party governance, public policy, elections and institutional development.
He added that the Institute would also serve as the institutional memory of the APC by documenting party activities, primaries, conventions and major policy decisions.
“The council is the highest organ of the Institute, and its role is fundamental to the future of the Institute, especially in realising the vision of the party,” he said.
The APC chairman, who will also serve as Chairman of the Governing Council, said the arrangement was designed to ensure strong policy direction and strategic oversight at the highest level of party leadership.
He congratulated members of the council, describing them as carefully selected professionals chosen based on their expertise and experience.
Yilwatda also acknowledged the contributions of a former APC National Chairman and former Kano State Governor, Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, for laying the groundwork for the establishment of the Institute.
He called on APC governors, party elders and stakeholders to support the Institute by patronising its training, research and consultancy services.
“With this, it is my pleasure to formally inaugurate the council of The Progressive Institute,” he said.
In his remarks, the Director of the Institute, Dr Lanre Adebayo, assured that the management would work to ensure the objectives of the Institute were achieved.
