Vice President Kashim Shettima says President Bola Tinubu’s administration will remodel the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS) into a digital and financially stable global centre of excellence by 2030.
Mr Shettima stated this on Saturday when he represented Mr Tinubu at the Graduation Ceremony of Senior Executive Course 47 of NIPSS in Kuru, Plateau State.
He said that the institute’s Senior Executive Course represents a deliberate investment in the nation’s future leadership.
The vice president added that the institute was a meeting point for ideas that define policy, guide reform, and influence the course of national development.
“President Bola Tinubu has been unequivocal in his commitment to supporting NIPSS in its transformation agenda.
”This is particularly in its ambition to become a digitally driven, financially stable, and globally recognised centre of excellence by 2030.
”We recognise the Institute’s critical role in shaping national policy and in building the leadership capacity required to navigate an increasingly complex world,” he declared.
Mr Shettima stated that the support the Tinubu administration was giving to transform the institute exceeds funding, infrastructure and conducive research environment.
He said, ”Our support must therefore go beyond funding, infrastructure, and a conducive research environment.
” It must ensure that NIPSS produces implementation ready policy papers and that its outputs are fully integrated into national decision making and execution frameworks.”
Mr Shettima commended the theme of the Senior Executive Course 47, “Blue Economy and Sustainable Development in Nigeria’.
According to him, it is a reflection of the urgency with remarkable clarity, and “captures the reality that development, security, environmental stewardship, and social inclusion are inseparable.”
Mr Shettima, however, observed that the strength of the academic work does not depend only on its academic depth.
He added, ”But in its insistence that policy must be practical, implementable, and firmly grounded in Nigeria’s realities.
“We are grateful for your sustained and rigorous enquiries into the affairs of the maritime domain, enquiries that continue to provide the nation with insights it depends upon.
”Your latest research makes it clear that securing Nigeria’s waterways, coastlines, and inland communities goes far beyond safety alone. It speaks to livelihoods, food security, environmental protection, and national cohesion.
”When young people have productive work, when communities trust the state, and when institutions coordinate effectively, insecurity loses its oxygen.”
Mr Shettima assured that the Tinubu’s administration takes evidence-based policymaking very seriously.
The vice-president said he had already directed relevant ministries, departments, and agencies to give the report and recommendations of the graduands the close attention they deserve, both for immediate application and for long term strategic planning.”
Mr Shettima thanked the institute’s director-general, Ayo Omotayo, its management and members of staff for their dedication, professionalism, and unflinching commitment.
The vice president said Mr Tinubu would continue to uphold NIPSS as the nation’s foremost centre for strategic thought and leadership development.
Mr Shettima applauded Governor Caleb Mutfwang of Plateau and people of the state for continuing to support NIPSS by sustaining the peaceful environment that has enabled the “Institute to function as a true national asset.”
Earlier, Mr Mutfwang commended the federal government’s support to the institute, particularly in facilitating the hitch-free completion of its academic programmes as well as the execution of its other strategic projects and mandate.
The governor, who underscored the importance of academic programmes at the institution, noted that Nigeria stands to benefit immensely from the research output of the institution.
”Particularly in broadening governance perspective and making valuable recommendations in addressing security across the country.”
On his part, the chairman, board of NIPSS, Sen. Ken Nnamani, said the pathways to addressing some of the nation’s challenges can be found in the research reports of research institutions across the country.
Mr Nnamani, who urged authorities at the national and subnational levels to adopt products of the institute, implored members of the SEC 47 to be worthy ambassadors of the institution.
He expressed confidence in the commitment of the Tinubu administration to continue to support research endeavours at NIPSS, and implement key research findings of academic institutions across the country, including NIPSS.
(NAN)
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