Former director-general of the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS), Prof Ladi Hamalai, has been appointed to lead the project advisory council established for the Initiative for Celebrating Outstanding National States persons (ICONS) of the Fourth Republic project.
The ICONS is a flagship initiative of OrderPaper Nigeria, the country’s foremost independent parliamentary think tank and legislative accountability platform. It is dedicated to documenting and celebrating the legacies of distinguished public officials, who have served in both the legislature and executive arms of government since 1999.
A statement signed by Uko Etuk, programmes manager at OrderPaper, said the council would oversee and guide the delivery of the ICONS project with integrity as a national legacy initiative. It comprises eminent professionals, charged with providing strategic direction, editorial oversight and validation of the ICONS book of records and accompanying digital archive to ensure credibility, accuracy and pan-national non-partisan outlook.
The council comprises leading figures from academia, public policy, journalism, civil society and legislative research, all of whom have been selected for their demonstrated expertise, professional accomplishments and integrity.
The statement said members of the council include Dr. Otive Igbuzor, a civil society leader; Abiodun Adeniyi, a professor of mass communication at Baze University, Abuja; a political analyst, Prof. Abba Sadique, deputy vice-chancellor at the University of Abuja; and James Akpandem, a veteran journalist, public affairs analyst, and former editor of the Daily Independent newspaper. Others include Dr. Uche Igwe, a visiting Fellow at the London School of Economics (LSE); Dr. Halima Gaya, a lawyer; and Mr. Mathew Coker, a research and strategy advisor at the National Assembly Library Trust Fund (NALTF).
The statement said Oke Epia, chief executive of OrderPaper, expressed delight at the rich quality and varied experiences of the council members, stating that such a combination would “guarantee that the ICONS project meets the highest standards of objectivity, scholarship, gender inclusion, nationalistic and non-partisan delivery and historical accuracy.
“By appointing this diverse and distinguished advisory council, OrderPaper affirms its commitment to ensuring the project is guided by inclusive, impartial and evidence-based principles, while promoting democratic values and institutional memory for future generations.”
The ICONS initiative is based on the pioneering FLEX framework, the Facility for Legislative Executive Exchange, which was established by OrderPaper to critically examine the movement of political actors between Nigeria’s two main branches of government. The FLEX principle recognises the significant crossover of leadership roles and seeks to assess the long-term democratic and governance effects of such transitions.
The ICONS project is built on three core pillars: a book of records, a high-quality, research-grade and limited-edition publication profiling the lives, service records and democratic impact of selected ICONS; an interactive digital archive, which will feature sub-portals for each ICON with curated historical content and public-facing multimedia documentation; and a high-profile celebratory gala night and public unveiling event, scheduled to hold later in 2025 in Abuja, where the first edition of the book of records and digital repository will be officially launched.
“This project marks a significant contribution to Nigeria’s democratic memory and institutional heritage,” the statement noted, adding, “Over the last 25 years of the Fourth Republic, Nigeria has witnessed a unique evolution in its political class, with governors becoming senators, lawmakers becoming ministers and public officials whose legislative and executive footprints have shaped national policy.”