Connect with us

General News

Senate President applauds NILDS for delivering on core mandate

Published

on

Senate President Ahmad Lawan
Senate President Ahmad Lawan
The President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan has applauded the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies(NILDS) for delivering on its core mandate in the last six years of it’s existence.
Lawan made the remarks in Abuja on Monday at the 2022 Convocation ceremony of the Post Graduate and Higher National Diploma programmes of NILDS. The institute is an affiliate of University of Benin.
The Senate President who is also the Chairman, Governing Council of NILDS said “it is remarkable that a relatively young programme such as the NILDS-UNIBEN postgraduate programme has been able to host this event for six consecutive years, a feat that is increasingly becoming difficult for many institutions of related mandates, including older universities, to uphold.
“This is no mean feat by any standard. We must commend the steadfastness of the managers of the system, most especially the management team, for their selfless commitment to the actualisation of the vision and mission of the Institute in all ramifications.
“Today’s convocation is a testament that NILDS is on the right track vis-a-vis its mandate to build and strengthen the capacities of democratic institutions and actors in our country.
“As such, occasions like this call not only for celebration, it also demands a critical analysis of the journey to underscore achievements, opportunities and limitations.
“It is gratifying that the NILDS-UNIBEN programme has been able to deliver on its core mandates in the last six academic sessions. This is exemplified by the number of graduands and their class of degrees across the various academic/professional programmes.
“What is impressive about the programme is that it comprises mainly practitioners in the legislature, the judiciary, and the executive. As such, the various programmes can achieve what is missing in most academic institutions: a handshake between praxis and practice.
“The success of the Institute and the efficient manner in which the postgraduate programmes are operated challenge us to reflect on some of the intractable challenges that our academic institutions face.
“It is also imperative that we reflect on the impact that education can have in uniting Nigerians as one people, even with different tongues and tribes. Higher educational institutions, especially universities, have prominent roles to play in these processes.
Cognizant of the track record of some of the Institute’s faculty that include some former Principal Officers of the National Assembly across disciplines, I challenge NILDS to continue to take the lead in generating and disseminating evidence-based knowledge that can feed into the policy process at various levels in addressing these challenges.
“During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Institute demonstrated this leadership by putting together academic and expert perspectives on how Nigeria could mitigate the effects of the crisis.
“Once again, our country stands at another critical crossroads as we prepare for the general elections in February 2023. The periods between now and the elections; and between the elections and the handing over in May 2023 are critical.
“NILDS and other leading democratic institutions are responsible for intervening positively to ensure the success of the elections. I challenge academic institutions and think tanks to develop further interventions to improve the process.
“Issues requiring rigorous academic and intellectual input include stemming the rising tide of fake news, hate speech, violence and many more that have continually endangered our elections.
“It is not enough to throw this challenge without a corresponding commitment from our end. As the President of the Senate and Chair of your Governing Council, I will never shy away from such a responsibility.
“As we have always done, we will continue to do our best to support the Institute. As I stated during the President’s presentation of the 2023 Appropriation Bill a few weeks ago, we are committed to completing the Institute’s magnificent permanent site. I am optimistic that Mr President will commission it before the end of this administration.”
Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

General News

Clergy Urged To Put Members’ Welfare Above All Else

Published

on

Anglican Church logo

At a solemn ordination service in Abuja, senior church leaders have called on pastors to make the well-being of their congregations a top priority, following the example of Jesus Christ.

Speaking during the priesthood ordination and installation of a Sub Dean at the Cathedral Church of Advent, Life Camp, Abuja, the retired Bishop of the Anglican Diocese of Okene, Rt. Rev. Emmanuel Ajulo, described pastors as shepherds charged with the care of their flock. He urged them to shun worldly distractions and focus on meeting the spiritual and material needs of their members.

Bishop Ajulo also encouraged the newly ordained priests to remain faithful to their calling by teaching God’s word without compromise.

In his charge, the Primate of the Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion, Most Rev. Henry Ndukuba, urged the new clergy to preach the undiluted gospel and foster religious harmony wherever they serve. He expressed confidence that their new roles would help promote peace and unity in society.

The service also featured prayers for national leaders and divine intervention in addressing the current global economic challenges.

Continue Reading

General News

1,000 Prayer Warriors Storm Ilorin for Tinubu, Nation’s Deliverance

Published

on

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu

In a dramatic show of faith and patriotism, over 1,000 fiery prayer warriors from across Nigeria will descend on Ilorin, Kwara State, this Saturday, lifting their voices in intense intercession for President Bola Tinubu’s success and Nigeria’s survival in the face of biting economic woes and mounting insecurity.

The spiritual siege, themed “Walking in Domini”, is the maiden convention of the Organisation of African Instituted Churches (OAIC), with its Kwara State Chairman, Evangelist Thomas Adeboye, vowing that “heaven will hear and respond to Nigeria’s cry.”

Aside from marathon prayers, the gathering will roll out free medical outreach to locals across Kwara’s LGAs, a gesture aimed at touching both body and soul.

Adeboye, lamenting Nigeria’s “troubling economic and security realities”, called for a nationwide prayer uprising, insisting that Tinubu has shown the will to revive the nation but needs massive divine backing to succeed.

“Banditry, a collapsing economy, and political tension demand we seek God’s face like never before,” he declared. “We will storm heaven for wisdom for the President and governors to steer Nigeria to safety.”

The convention will also feature awards to distinguished personalities, soul-lifting worship, fiery sermons, and unity-driven lectures—all capped with thunderous prayers for Nigeria’s redemption.

Adeboye urged the President to ensure every policy has “a human face,” stressing that Nigerians must not only endure but also enjoy the fruits of governance.

With the OAIC promising to reaffirm believers’ authority in Christ and rally spiritual boldness in the face of national challenges, Ilorin is set to become the epicentre of a powerful spiritual warfare for Nigeria’s destiny.

 

 

Continue Reading

General News

Nigerian Anglicans Condemn Lesbian Archbishop of Wales, Deepening Global Anglican Rift

Published

on

Anglican Church logo

…Church leaders accuse Welsh counterparts of “spiritual decadence” and “abandonment of faith”

The Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) has issued a forceful condemnation of the election of Rt. Rev. Cherry Vann, an openly lesbian cleric, as the Archbishop of Wales. The move is the latest in a series of developments that have deepened divisions within the global Anglican Communion over sexuality and doctrine.

In a statement from Primate The Most Rev’d Henry Ndukuba, the church denounced the election as a “serious departure from biblical teaching” and a sign of “spiritual decadence” and “an outright abandonment of the faith once delivered to the saints.”

Archbishop Ndukuba warned that Bishop Vann’s elevation compromises the Anglican Church’s global mission and could obstruct evangelism. He compared the situation to the controversial tenure of Most Rev. Katherine Jefferts Schori, former Presiding Bishop of the U.S. Episcopal Church, who also faced intense criticism from conservative Anglicans for her progressive views.

The Primate accused Bishop Vann of being complicit in the “ongoing crisis” around same-sex issues, stating that the election is a “clear revelation that many who claim to be members of the body of Christ cannot endure sound doctrine” (2 Timothy 4:3–4).

The Church of Nigeria called on Anglicans worldwide to reject “rebels” and “apostates” and to instead support conservative bodies like the Global Anglican Future Conference (GAFCON).

“The Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) condemns, unequivocally rejects, and will not recognize the election of Rt. Rev. Cherry Vann as Archbishop of Wales,” Ndukuba declared. He concluded with a solemn warning that without repentance, the Church in Wales risks losing “complete relevance” and its leaders will face judgment.

 

Continue Reading