NIPSS Plans Six Regional Centres as Experts Push Leadership and Policy Reforms
The National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), Kuru, has announced plans to establish six regional training centres across Nigeria as policy experts raised concerns over the widening gap between leadership training and effective governance. They also called for reforms in the Institute’s admission procedures, funding structure and implementation of policy recommendations.
The Director‑General of NIPSS, Professor Ayo Omotayo, disclosed the expansion plan during a webinar organised by the Nigerian Global Roundtable (NGR) which assessed the Institute’s contributions to national development since its establishment in 1979. According to a communiqué issued by the Vienna‑based organisation, the proposed centres aim to expand access to leadership training and strengthen NIPSS’s capacity to develop professionals across the public and private sectors. Omotayo confirmed that the Enugu State Government had already allocated land for one of the centres.
The webinar, themed “The Impact and Contributions of NIPSS to Nigeria’s Development,” brought together academics, policy specialists and institutional stakeholders.
In his welcome address, NGR Chairman and Convener, Dr. Jones Edobor, questioned whether NIPSS had sufficiently fulfilled its founding mandate, noting persistent leadership deficiencies across sectors despite decades of training.
Edobor recalled that NIPSS was established to train leaders in the military and civil service before expanding to private‑sector professionals. He described the Institute as a national platform for examining Nigeria’s long‑term development priorities through workshops, seminars, conferences and research. However, he lamented that leadership positions in Nigeria were increasingly viewed as avenues for elite privilege rather than opportunities for service and national transformation.
“As NIPSS approaches its 50th anniversary, an important question arises: To what extent has the Institute fulfilled its mandate?” he asked.
In his presentation, Omotayo described NIPSS as a strategic institution linking research, leadership development and evidence‑informed policymaking. He highlighted contributions to national security, economic development, democratic governance and national unity through the flagship Senior Executive Course (SEC) and other programmes.
He noted that while many NIPSS policy recommendations had been adopted at operational levels, comprehensive implementation of major proposals remained a challenge. The DG said the Institute was prioritising strategic foresight to anticipate emerging threats and identify development opportunities.
Omotayo also acknowledged limitations in participant selection, explaining that some government institutions nominate candidates without substantial input from NIPSS.
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A major issue raised during the webinar was the need to review age and seniority requirements for admission into the Senior Executive Course. Participants argued that admitting qualified professionals earlier in their careers would allow them to apply NIPSS training for a longer period before retirement.
They recommended that candidates with at least 10 years of active service remaining be prioritised. Some experts also suggested making NIPSS training a requirement for certain leadership positions.
Former NIPSS Director of Studies, Professor Funmi Para‑Mallam, acknowledged the Institute’s contributions but identified persistent structural challenges, including politicised participant selection, inadequate funding, weak implementation of research recommendations and limited alumni engagement. She proposed a formal implementation compact to strengthen government accountability for adopting NIPSS policy outputs.
Similarly, Professor Yusuf Adamu commended NIPSS but questioned the effectiveness of translating research findings into government policies. He emphasised the need for stronger change‑management strategies and closer engagement with institutions responsible for implementing recommendations.
Participants recommended establishing a comprehensive policy‑tracking framework to monitor adoption and measurable impact of NIPSS recommendations. They also urged improved collaboration with the executive arm of government, private‑sector organisations and international partners.
The webinar proposed introducing a pre‑admission assessment for Senior Executive Course applicants to strengthen merit‑based selection. Opportunities for international cooperation between NIPSS and the Nigerian Global Roundtable—such as study tours and professional engagements in Europe—were also explored.
Omotayo agreed to provide his presentation to the Nigerian Global Roundtable for publication, while Para‑Mallam undertook to submit her proposed five‑year roadmap for wider engagement. The DG is expected to work with Edobor and Professor Omonigho Otanocha of the Federal University of Petroleum Resources, Warri, to coordinate prospective collaborations.
In its concluding communiqué, the Nigerian Global Roundtable reaffirmed NIPSS’s strategic importance in developing national leadership, advancing policy research and strengthening democratic governance. It stressed that sustainable funding, transparent admission procedures, stronger policy‑implementation mechanisms and improved institutional accountability were essential to maximising the Institute’s contributions to Nigeria’s development.
The discussions underscored the central question raised at the webinar’s opening: whether nearly five decades of strategic leadership training have translated into purposeful governance, effective institutions and measurable improvements in Nigeria’s development outcomes.
By PRNigeria
