By Nefishetu Yakubu

The National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS), in collaboration with the University of Benin (UNIBEN), on Monday graduated 123 postgraduate students at its 10th convocation ceremony held in Abuja.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the graduates received various degrees in legislative drafting, legislative studies, parliamentary administration, constitutional law, elections and political party management.

The Vice-Chancellor of UNIBEN, Prof. Edoba Omoregie, while declaring the convocation open, commended the growing partnership between both institutions, saying that it had strengthened postgraduate education and professional training in legislative and democratic studies.

Omoregie said the collaboration reflected both institutions’ commitment to academic excellence, quality education and global best practices in developing professionals for legislative and democratic governance.

He urged the graduates to apply their knowledge and skills to Nigeria’s development and them to become worthy ambassadors of both institutions.

“I urge you to become worthy ambassadors of UNIBEN and NILDS, make a difference and contribute to our socio-political development,” Omoregie said.

The vice-chancellor said the graduates’ training would be particularly relevant as Nigeria prepared for the general elections, urging them to participate actively and uphold electoral integrity.

He acknowledged the support of the Senate President and the National Assembly leadership, saying that their contributions had helped NILDS strengthen its capacity to train professionals in legislative and democratic governance.

Omoregie described NILDS as a specialised institution supporting the National Assembly and other democratic institutions through research, technical expertise, legislative drafting, policy analysis and professional capacity development.

He commended the Director-General of NILDS, Prof. Abubakar Sulaiman, for his leadership and contributions to the institute’s growth, transformation and expansion of academic programmes.

Omoregie also congratulated former UNIBEN vice-chancellor, Prof. Faraday Orumwense, on receiving the NILDS Fellowship Award, describing the recognition as well deserved.

He said Orumwense had played a significant role in sustaining the partnership between UNIBEN and NILDS, which began during the tenure of former late vice-chancellor, Prof. Godwin Osayuki

In his welcome address, NILDS director-general, Sulaiman said convocation ceremonies recognised academic achievements and prepared graduates to become ambassadors of their institutions, apply their knowledge and contribute meaningfully to society.

He described the 10th convocation as particularly significant because it coincided with his final convocation ceremony as Director-General, adding that it had provided an opportunity to reflect on developments during his seven-and-a-half-year tenure.

He said the institute had strengthened its academic workforce by engaging more than 40 lecturers and researchers, including professors to combine theoretical instruction with practical experience.

The director-general said NILDS had improved its learning environment after relocating to a permanent site in 2024, upgrading lecture halls, facilities and digitised applications, admissions, payments and access to results.

He said student enrolment had continued to increase and attracted participants from the legislature, military, paramilitary services, government agencies and the general public, as the institute expanded its programmes and improved facilities.

Sulaiman disclosed that NILDS was pursuing further academic expansion through plans for a proposed transition into a specialised university, subject to approvals.

In his remarks, Senate President Godswill Akpabio commended NILDS director-general, for his leadership and achievements, while congratulating the institute and UNIBEN on the 10th convocation of their collaborative postgraduate programmes.

Akpabio represented by the Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin, said the collaboration had contributed to the development of specialised postgraduate education and training in legislative and democratic studies.

The senate president urged the graduands to apply the knowledge acquired through their academic programmes to national development and the promotion of effective governance(NAN)
NY/KOO
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Edited by Kevin Okunzuwa