By Chesa Chesa
With intent to entrench ideology-driven politics and policy-based governance in Nigeria, the All Progressives Congress (APC) on Monday inaugurated the Governing Council of The Progressive Institute (TPI), signaling the party’s resolve to build a world-class political foundation comparable to the best in global democratic systems.
The Council was inaugurated at the APC National Secretariat in Abuja by the National Chairman of the party, Professor Nentawe Goshwe Yilwatda, who described the development as a major milestone in the institutional strengthening of the APC and the Nigerian political landscape.
He noted that the inauguration concludes the process of establishing the governance structure of the Institute, which was unveiled on September 6, 2024, and positions TPI as the intellectual engine and policy think tank of the party.
According to Professor Yilwatda, the Progressive Institute was established at the instance of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as part of a deliberate effort to deepen ideological clarity within the APC, strengthen research capacity, and promote issue-based politics not only within the ruling party but across Nigeria’s entire party system.
He emphasized that the President’s vision is to nurture a more resilient, competitive, and policy-focused democracy anchored on strong political institutions rather than personalities.
He added that the inauguration of the Governing Council marks the beginning of a new phase for the Institute, one focused on driving governance reforms, leadership development, capacity building, and evidence-based policymaking that will enhance democratic governance and national development.
Professor Yilwatda noted that the Institute has been duly registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) as a Company Limited by Guarantee and has received approvals from the Federal Ministry of Education and the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE).
He emphasized that the APC, despite being the ruling party, ensured strict compliance with all statutory and regulatory requirements to guarantee TPI’s independence, credibility, and sustainability as a non-state institution, underscoring the party’s commitment to the rule of law.
He outlined the core statutory functions of The Progressive Institute to include research and publication on public policy, democratization, governance, and leadership; organization of workshops, national and international conferences; collaboration with relevant APC organs on political strategy; and extensive capacity-building programmes covering leadership, ideology, intra-party democracy, public policy, institution building, elections, and APC values.
The Institute will also serve as a platform for robust engagement between the party and the wider Nigerian society, while acting as the institutional memory of the APC through systematic documentation of party activities, conventions, caucus decisions, and policy positions.
Describing the Governing Council as the highest decision-making organ of the Institute, the APC National Chairman stressed that its role is fundamental to realizing the vision of building a world-class political foundation comparable and to the best global institutions in its category.
