The African Capacity Building Foundation and Nigeria’s National Institute for Legislative Studies today in Abuja signed an agreement that will enable the Foundation continue its support to the Institute in its goal of developing the legislative arm of government in Nigeria and the West African sub-region. The project has four components, namely training, research, networking, and the strengthening of the NILS. The training programmes are expected to benefit both legislators and staff of the Nigerian National Assembly, the legislatures in the country’s 36 states and the parliament of the Economic Community of West African States.
Prof. Emmanuel Nnadozie, the Executive Secretary of the Harare-based Foundation, signed on behalf of the organization while Senator Ike Ekweremadu, Deputy President of the Nigerian Senate and President of the ECOWAS Parliament signed for NILS.
“The NILS-CAP is designed on the premise that as key governance institutions, the role of effective legislatures is critical and fundamental as Africa evolves to consolidate democratic gains and resolve pockets of instability in parts of the continent,” Prof. Nnadozie said at the event. The latest support is to consolidate on previous ACBF intervention which was largely instrumental to setting up the Institute. Since its inception in 1991, the Foundation has committed about $28 million to support projects in Nigeria such as the Centre for Management Development. Regional projects including the ECOWAS Economic Policy Analysis Unit and the West African Institute for Financial and Economic Management have also benefitted, said Prof. Nnadozie. “We would explore options and opportunities to deepen this engagement through grant and non-grant support, such as Technical Assistance programmes,” he added.
Senator Ekweremadu in his remarks commended ACBF for its help in strengthening legislators in the sub-region in their pursuit of good governance and the fight against corruption. Also, the Deputy Speaker of the Nigerian House of Representatives, Emeka Ihedioha, applauded the Foundation’s initiatives for NILS.
