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…Promises to leverage Science, Technology to deepen internal democracy
From Romanus Ugwu, Abuja
The All Progressives Congress (APC) has launched a progressive institute to serve as its think-tank, scientific and intellectual resource centre.
APC National Chairman, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, performed the opening ceremony at a one-day validation conference on the draft handbook of the progressive institute on Saturday in Abuja.
Ganduje said that the institute would be a platform not only to enhance the intellectual foundation of the party, but also to strengthen the process of decision-making through the deployment of research-driven, empirical and accountable approaches in the APC’s operations.
The former governor of Kano State noted that the centre would carry out research on progressive ideals and their programmatic implications while also developing the curriculum for ideological training for members of the APC including those in government.
He promised to leverage Science and Technology to deepen internal democracy while also promoting democracy, good governance, inclusiveness and equity in the country.
In his remarks, Ganduje said: “I formally welcome everyone to this important conference to review the draft Handbook of the Progressive Institute, our party’s Think-Tank as well as its Intellectual Resource Centre. The Handbook was developed as part of our deliberate efforts to establish a world-class intellectual resource centre.
“One of my major pronouncements immediately after my inauguration was the establishment of the Progressive Institute as a platform not only to enhance the intellectual foundation of the party, but also to strengthen the process of decision-making through the deployment of research-driven, empirical and accountable approaches in the APC’s operations.
“We are determined to leverage Science and Technology to deepen internal democracy while also promoting democracy, good governance, inclusiveness and equity in the country. Our leadership is conscious of its historical responsibility to promote these ideals.
“The Institute will play a dual role for the APC. It will function as a think-tank as well as an intellectual resource centre. As a think-tank, it will undertake research either on its own or under the directives of the party, focusing on policies and programmes of governments on the APC platform.
“This will enhance the capacity to effectively play its role. It will also undertake capacity-building activities for our members. In both roles, the centre will carry out research on progressive ideals and their programmatic implications, while also developing the curriculum for ideological training for members of the APC including those in government,” Ganduje said.
Speaking further, the party boss noted that: “It is important to emphasise the determination of our party to raise the quality of political discourse in the country through very well-defined ideological prisms.
“The essence of developing the handbook, as part of the initial foundational materials of the institute, is to ensure global standard and thoroughness in the development of both the intellectual and professional materials of the institution,” he said.
