Tinubu vows to transform NIPSS into digital powerhouse by 2030

Abdullateef Fowewe

Vice President Kashim Shettima, representing President Bola Tinubu, has pledged on Saturday to remodel the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS) into a “digitally driven, financially stable, and globally recognised centre of excellence” by 2030, with its research fully embedded in Nigeria’s policymaking.

This was obtained in a statement on Saturday by Stanley Nkwocha, Senior Special Assistant to The President on Media & Communications (Office of The Vice President).

Speaking at the graduation of Senior Executive Course (SEC) 47 in Kuru, Shettima emphasised the institute’s role as Nigeria’s premier platform for fostering thinkers, reformers, and innovators.

“His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has been unequivocal in his commitment to supporting NIPSS in its transformation agenda,” he declared, adding that federal backing extends “beyond funding, infrastructure, and a conducive research environment” to ensure “implementation-ready policy papers” integrated into national decisions.

The VP lauded the course’s theme, “Blue Economy and Sustainable Development in Nigeria,” for linking development, security, environmental stewardship, and social inclusion.

He stressed that strong policy must be “practical, implementable, and firmly grounded in Nigeria’s realities,” while commending graduands for insights on securing waterways that tie into livelihoods, food security, and national cohesion.

“When young people have productive work, when communities trust the state, and when institutions coordinate effectively, insecurity loses its oxygen,” Shettima noted.

Shettima directed ministries to prioritise the course’s report for immediate and long-term use, thanking NIPSS Director General Prof. Ayo Omotayo for upholding the institute as a “foremost centre for strategic thought.”

Plateau State Governor Caleb Mutfwang hailed federal support for NIPSS’s programs, urging adoption of its research to tackle security and governance challenges.

NIPSS Board Chairman Senator Ken Nnamani called for implementing the institute’s findings nationwide, while Prof. Omotayo highlighted achievements like crisis anticipation research under a five-year plan. The event featured certificate presentations to graduands, their induction into the Alumni Association (AANI), and Shettima inaugurating four donated 2-bedroom apartments.

Earlier, Shettima engaged strawberry farmers in Plateau, reaffirming Tinubu’s commitment to revitalizing Nigeria’s agricultural value chain.