The National Working Committee (NWC) of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has announced plans to upgrade its Progressive Institute to an international standard, aiming to position it as a world-class institution capable of competing with the best in its category. The move comes as part of the party’s broader strategy to enhance its institutional capacity and political influence.

Statutory Roles and Responsibilities

At the inauguration of the governing board of the institute at the APC’s national headquarters in Abuja on Monday, Nentawe Goshwe Yilwatda, the party’s national chairman, outlined the institute’s new statutory responsibilities. These include serving as the institutional memory of the APC by documenting all party activities, primaries, policies, and decisions made by the Caucus and National Executive Committee meetings, as well as the Convention.

Yilwatda emphasized that the institute will undertake research and publish books and journals on public policy, democratisation, good governance, leadership, and related subjects. It will also organize regular workshops, international and local conferences, and national discourses on ideology and governance.

Additional statutory functions include collaborating with relevant APC organs to develop and execute the party’s political strategies, and undertaking capacity-building programs in areas such as intra-party governance, leadership, ideology, public policy, institution building, elections, and election-related matters. The institute will also provide a platform for strong discussions within the party and between the party and the wider Nigerian society.

Commitment to International Standards

Yilwatda assured that the institute will be to international standards. He explained that the Council, the highest organ of the Institute, plays a fundamental role in shaping its future, particularly in realizing the party’s vision and establishment goals.

“Our desire is to establish The Progressive Institute as a world-class institution that will compete with the best in its category,” Yilwatda stated. He emphasized that the National Chairman of the APC, himself, is the Chairman of the Governing Council, highlighting the party’s deliberate decision to give the institute strategic attention at the highest level of leadership.

He assured that the entire leadership of the APC, from the National Leader down to members of the NWC and all APC leaders, are fully committed to supporting the institution. “I want to assure you that the entire leadership of our party, starting from our National Leader, my good self, all members of the NWC and all APC Leaders, are fully committed to give this great institution our full support and attention,” he said.

Selection of Institute Members

Yilwatda also defended the selection of the institute’s members, stating that they were carefully chosen from among thousands of qualified experts and outstanding Nigerians based on their pedigree and experience. He expressed confidence that they would contribute to building a first-class institute.

On his part, Lanre Adebayor, the chairman of the Institute and a renowned journalist, highlighted the progress the establishment has made. He described it as the best thing to happen to the ruling party, highlighting its potential to enhance the APC’s political and institutional strength.

The upgrade of the Progressive Institute is expected to have a significant impact on the APC’s policy development, political strategy, and public engagement. Analysts suggest that the move reflects the party’s growing emphasis on institutional capacity building and strategic planning to maintain its dominance in Nigerian politics.

With the institute now operating under new statutory responsibilities and a commitment to international standards, the APC aims to ensure that its political strategies are informed by rigorous research and effective governance practices. The institute’s role in documenting the party’s activities and decisions is expected to provide a clear historical record and a foundation for future policy-making.

As the APC continues to invest in its institutional infrastructure, the Progressive Institute’s transformation is seen as a critical step in strengthening the party’s political and ideological foundations. The next phase will involve the implementation of the institute’s strategic plans, which are expected to be finalized in the coming months.