From Adesuwa Tsan, Abuja
The National Assembly has pledged full support for The Progressive Institute, a training body launched by the All Progressives Congress (APC) to equip young Nigerians with democratic and leadership skills.
Deputy Senate President Jibrin Barau made this commitment during a courtesy visit by the institute’s Director General, Dr Lanre Adebayo, and his team on Thursday, April 24, 2025.
Barau praised the institute’s mission, calling it a long-overdue initiative. Reflecting on his own experience, he said, “I’m a beneficiary of a similar institute from a foreign land.”
He recounted how, 26 years ago, after his election to the House of Representatives in 1999, the U.S.-based National Democratic Institute (NDI) trained Nigerian legislators.
“There was a long period when we didn’t have a legislature in this country because of military intervention. The NDI taught us how to conduct ourselves. The training made us stand out,” he said.
Encouraging broader impact, Barau urged the institute to extend its programmes to other political parties and beyond Nigeria. “As First Deputy Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament, I plead that you extend your tentacles beyond this country. Reach out to us, despite differing ideologies. You will be very useful to the ECOWAS Parliament,” he said.
Dr Adebayo highlighted the institute’s goal to strengthen Nigeria’s political landscape through skill-building and leadership development, equipping young and emerging leaders for effective governance.