• As DG NILDS Pushes for End to Language Barriers in Parliamentary Diplomacy 

By Nuradeen Ishola, Abuja

The Vision of the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies, NILDS, National Assembly, to be the Regional hub and top-tier research and training Institute is yielding fruitful results through wide acceptability in the West African Sub-region.

This is contained in a statement signed by Mohammad Abdulkadri, ANIPR. Media AAdviserto DG NILDS, Wednesday and made available to ArtsDaily Nigeria in Abuja

According to the statement,  “Sequel to berth of a new addition and attraction to NILDS long lists of bilateral cooperations with the symbolic signing of the Memorandum of Understanding, MoU, with the Institut Parlementaire Du Benin, ( Parliament Institute of Benin), IPAB, Republic of Benin.

“The Director General National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies,NILDS National Assembly, Professor Abubakar Olanrewaju Sulaiman, who described the event as epoch making one said it’s a diplomatic relation between two brother countries with shared culture, climate colour and Colonial experiences.

“On what NILDS is bringing to the table to drive the MoU within the prism of Parliamentary Diplomatic Relations with the sister Institute, Professor Sulaiman enumerated strategically substantial areas of comparative mileage of NILDS vis-a-vis IPAB pointing out that it will help the Republic of Benin to lean and learn in actionable and workable terms.”

He cited the over two hundred and fifty legislative drafters trained in Africa by NILDS, running of Masters cum Ph.D Programmes in all aspects of Parliamentary Relations, Security Sector training and invited IPAB to be the first set of trainees in the NILDS upcoming “Advance Executive Programme” AEP, sheduled to commence by January next year to be coordinated by the Former chairman Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Professor Attahiru Jega. Abdulkadri noted jn a statement.

Describing the organogram of the Legislative house of the country,  Prof. Sulaiman said, “The former minister of National Planning, who described the Legislative Arm of government as the fulcrum and the heartbeat of nation’s democracies took time to explain the organogram of NILDS with the Senate President Godswill Obot Akpabio , GCON on top of the echelon as Chairman of the Governing Council and the Speaker House of Representatives, Rt. Hon Abbas Tajudeen, Ph.D, GCON as Alternate Chairman.

“While tasking both parties to ignite the process of bridging the languages lacuna between English and French as tools for communication diplomacy, he said the MoU will be a win-win one with over two decades of the existence and experience of NILDS parading world Class state- of-the-Art facilities in an edifice that is acknowledged as architectural delight Permanent site that can rank equal with any of its peers around the globe.

“Leader of the 7-man IPAB delegation who is the first Vice President of the Parliament, Republic of Benin, Professor Barthelemy Kassa, and the Director of IPAB, Dr.Sedami Medegan Fagla in their respective remarks said the inspiration that berthed the idea of the MoU was harvested during the 2023 visit by IPAB to NILDS.
While appreciating the hospitality accorded members of the delegation, they said both countries have delightfully come a long way to deepen bilateral ties in the areas of Legislative and Democratic Studies.”

They said both IPAB and NILDS are products of law with common vision and mandate of being citadels of knowledge in building capacities of legislatures through research, training, and technical supports.
They expressed common concerns towards the attainments of the terms and conditions embedded in the MoU and thanked the DG NILDS for being a beacon of hope and Pacesetter.

Highlights of the historic ceremony were the symbolic signing and counter signing of the MoU document as well as presentation of plaques and publications by the Director General NILDS, Professor Abubakar Olanrewaju Sulaiman. The statement concluded.