APC Inaugurates Governing Council of Progressive Institute to Drive Policy and Leadership Development

By Zainab Uzomah| Abuja

The All Progressives Congress has inaugurated the Governing Council of The Progressive Institute, a new policy and research hub designed to strengthen leadership capacity, ideological development, and strategic governance within the party.

The ceremony took place on Monday at the party’s National Secretariat in Abuja, marking the completion of the Institute’s governance structure, which was first unveiled in September 2024.

Speaking at the event, APC National Chairman, Professor Nentawe Goshwe Yilwatda, described the Institute as the “intellectual backbone” of the ruling party, created to promote research-driven politics and deepen democratic governance in Nigeria.

He said the initiative was championed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to build a more resilient and ideologically grounded party system.

“The Institute is the think tank and the intellectual resource centre of our great party, the All Progressives Congress. It was established to strengthen the ideological and research capacity of the APC and encourage a research- and ideology-driven orientation in other political parties in Nigeria,” Yilwatda said.

He added that the Institute is registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission as a Company Limited by Guarantee and approved as a certified training organisation by the Federal Ministry of Education and the National Board for Technical Education.

According to Yilwatda, the Institute will serve as the party’s think tank, responsible for policy research, leadership training, and strategic politicaldevelopment. Its functions include organising national and international conferences, developing party strategies, delivering capacity-building programmes in leadership, governance, public policy, elections, and institutional development, and preserving the party’s institutional memory by documenting activities, primaries, conventions, and major policy decisions.

The National Chairman, who will also serve as the Chairman of the Governing Council, said the arrangement ensures strong policy direction and strategic oversight at the highest level of party leadership. He congratulated council members, describing them as carefully selected professionals with relevant expertise and experience.Yilwatda also acknowledged the contributions of former APC National Chairman and former Kano State Governor, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, for laying the groundwork for the Institute’s establishment. He urged APC governors, party elders, and stakeholders to support the Institute by patronising its training, research, and consultancy services.

“With this, it is my pleasure to formally inaugurate the council of The Progressive Institute,” he said.

In his remarks, the Director of the Institute, Dr Lanre Adebayo, assured that the management would work to ensure the objectives of the Institute are fully achieved.