TheCable

The School of Politics, Policy and Governance (SPPG) says 380 students have been matriculated to commence a 10-month leadership programme at the institution.

The programme is focused on producing political leaders who aspire to run for public offices, provide consultancy services or work within the government across Africa.

Speaking during the matriculation ceremony via Zoom, Obiageli Ezekwesili, founder of the institution and former minister of education, said the school was established to improve governance in Nigeria through active citizen participation.

“Class of 2024, I want you to know that this is only the beginning of the things you will be experiencing now that you have entered into this community,” Ezekwesili said.

“Context is everything. Context for me is to establish that the school of politics and governance is a school that came out of a very strong determination on my part to continue the search for an Africa that works.”

While addressing the students, Wale Suleiman, former special adviser to the governor of Kwara on health matters, said everyone needs to be involved for democracy to work in Nigeria.

“Most things don’t work in Nigeria because the processes and systems are broken and nobody is doing anything to try and fix it. This is where you come in,” Suleiman said.

“Nigeria has managed to use democracy to promote corruption where the executive or the legislative arm holds the executive hostage and then the judiciary is also held hostage either through financial or punitive means.

“So we have transitioned from an elective process to a selection process and the result of our elections will reflect the intention and desires of certain people as votes don’t count.

“Votes must count. We need to transition from godfatherism to people-focused representative democracy.

“Political apathy of the people leads to poor representation. Elites, academicians, the youths, all of you that are here need to get involved.

“Democracy doesn’t work without the participation of the populace.”

On her part, Alero Ayida-Otobo, chief executive officer of SPPG, said the school is committed to educating students to partake in solving the problems of Nigeria.

“The School of Politics and Policy Governance offers a 10-month program, a curriculum of carefully selected courses that have been analytically and empirically proven to be relevant to solving Africa’s complex development problems,” Ayida-Otobo said.

“Dr Obiageli in her research and through her several years of experience including being the vice president of World Bank, was able to show that there are gaps in the knowledge and understanding of public and political leaders across the continent.

“So, if we expect to solve our problems, we have to educate and enlighten our political leaders and that is why we are raising a new crop of leaders who will understand how to solve these problems.

“We are determined to get at least 300 of you to graduate.

“You have to take the decision today. Our goal is to equip 21st century politicians that would be known for three key policies, unquestionable competence, character, undeniable capacity.”