The Governing Council was inaugurated on Monday, at the APC national secretariat in Abuja by the national chairman of the party, Professor Nentawe Goshwe Yilwatda, who described the development as a major milestone in the institutional strengthening of the APC and the Nigerian political landscape.

He noted that the inauguration concluded the process of establishing the governance structure of the Institute, which was unveiled on September 6, 2024, and positioned TPI as the intellectual engine and policy think tank of the party.

According to Professor Yilwatda, The Progressive Institute was established at the instance of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, as part of a deliberate effort to deepen ideological clarity within the APC, strengthen research capacity, and promote issue-based politics not only within the ruling party but across Nigeria’s entire party system.

He emphasized that the president’s vision is to nurture a more resilient, competitive, and policy-focused democracy anchored on strong political institutions rather than personalities.

He added that the inauguration of the Governing Council marked the beginning of a new phase for the Institute, one focused on driving governance reforms, leadership development, capacity building, and evidence-based policymaking that will enhance democratic governance and national development.

Professor Yilwatda noted that the Institute has been duly registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission, CAC, as a Company Limited by Guarantee and has received approvals from the Federal Ministry of Education and the National Board for Technical Education, NBTE.

He emphasized that the APC, despite being the ruling party, ensured strict compliance with all statutory and regulatory requirements to guarantee TPI’s independence, credibility, and sustainability as a non-state institution, underscoring the party’s commitment to the rule of law.

He outlined the core statutory functions of The Progressive Institute to include research and publication on public policy, democratization, governance, and leadership; organization of workshops, national and international conferences; collaboration with relevant APC organs on political strategy; and extensive capacity-building programmes covering leadership, ideology, intra-party democracy, public policy, institution building, elections, and APC values.

The Institute will also serve as a platform for robust engagement between the party and the wider Nigerian society, while acting as the institutional memory of the APC through systematic documentation of party activities, conventions, caucus decisions, and policy positions.

Describing the Governing Council as the highest decision-making organ of the Institute, the APC national chairman stressed that its role is fundamental to realising the vision of building a world-class political foundation comparable to the best global institutions in its category.

He explained that his position as chairman of the Governing Council was a deliberate decision by the APC to ensure that TPI enjoyed sustained policy focus and strategic attention at the highest level of party leadership.

Yilwatda assured that the president, the National Working Committee, and leaders of the APC nationwide are fully committed to supporting the Institute.

He congratulated members of the Governing Council, noting that they were carefully selected from among many qualified Nigerians based on their pedigree, experience, and commitment to national development.

He expressed deep appreciation to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his foresight in establishing what he described as Nigeria’s premier political foundation, and also acknowledged the contributions of his predecessor, former APC National Chairman and former Governor of Kano State, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, and other stakeholders who laid the groundwork for the Institute.

The APC chairman appealed to party elders, governors, and elected officials to actively support TPI by patronising it for research, training, and consultancy services, stressing that the Institute must be fully integrated into the party’s governance and policy ecosystem.

In formally inaugurating the Governing Council, Professor Yilwatda charged members to see their appointment as a historic responsibility and an opportunity to write their names in gold by shaping policies that improve governance, strengthen democratic institutions, enhance electoral competitiveness, and make the APC more attractive to Nigerians.

He emphasized that the Council’s work must drive inclusive, balanced, and nationally representative policies, reflecting the diversity of Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones.

He further highlighted that the composition of the Governing Council reflected national balance, with representation from across the North and South, reinforcing the APC’s commitment to inclusiveness and unity.

The Governing Council comprises nine members, supported by six ex-officio management officials who serve as observers.

The Council includes leading academics, policy experts, and party leaders, while the management team oversees programmes, legal services, administration, human resources, planning, and training.

Also speaking at the event, the Director-General of The Progressive Institute, Dr. Lanre Adebayo, highlighted milestones achieved since the Institute’s unveiling, including organisational registration, compliance with key regulatory bodies, implementation of capacity-building and skill acquisition programmes across several states, and engagement with international partners such as the European Union.

He reaffirmed management’s commitment, in collaboration with the Governing Council, to deliver on the vision of the APC in establishing a world-class institution that empowers youth, strengthens governance, and positions Nigeria competitively in the global political and policy arena.

The inauguration ceremony was attended by members of the APC National Working Committee, party leaders, members of the Governing Council, representatives from across the six geopolitical zones, development partners, and the media.

The event marked a defining moment in the institutional evolution of the All Progressives Congress and reaffirmed its resolve to anchor politics, governance, and leadership on sound ideology, research, and policy excellence.

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Speaking on Thursday during the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between TPI and Jade & Jaydens Services Limited, which will support the upcoming three-day Midterm Sectoral Review of President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, TPI Director-General, Dr. Lanre Adebayo, lauded the president’s economic measures.

He highlighted that the removal of the petrol subsidy and the floating of the Naira had effectively ended the era in which state governments borrowed funds to cover payroll obligations.

“Before 2023, most state governors were borrowing money to pay salaries. Today, no state government is borrowing for that purpose. Instead, governors are embarking on massive infrastructure projects because they have significantly more resources at their disposal,” Adebayo said.

Describing Tinubu as a “statesman” rather than a “politician,” Adebayo argued that previous administrations, including those of former Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo, Goodluck Jonathan, and Muhammadu Buhari, often avoided these tough reforms due to political risks.

He said, in contrast, the current government had redirected funds from subsidized consumption into productive investments, creating a more sustainable fiscal environment for all tiers of government.

Dr. Mustapha Jibril, leader of the Progressive Local Government Chairmen Forum and chairman of Chanchaga Local Government in Niger State, noted that local administrators were witnessing the benefits of the reforms firsthand.

He acknowledged persistent challenges such as insecurity but said the federal government’s response had been encouraging.

James Williams, representing Jade & Jaydens Services, said the partnership with TPI was aimed at strengthening institutional credibility by documenting measurable outcomes, which he said would deepen democratic accountability and foster sustainable growth in Nigeria.

The three-year review is expected to comprehensively evaluate the impact of Tinubu’s policies across economic, infrastructural, and social sectors, while also highlighting areas for further reform ahead of the 2027 general elections.

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He made the reaffirmation on Tuesday as he undertook a facility tour of the office of The Progressive Institute, TPI, in Abuja.

Describing the visit as his first official engagement with the institute, Professor Yilwatda commended the leadership and staff of TPI for their vision, resilience and commitment to building a strong intellectual foundation for the party.

“This is my first visit to the institute, and I must commend the efforts made so far, particularly the deliberate steps taken to ensure its independence,” the APC chairman said.

He described TPI as one of the cardinal objectives of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, stressing that the institute was central to the broader task of stabilising the party and strengthening its internal democratic processes.

Professor Yilwatda noted that over the last six months, the APC leadership had deliberately focused on building structured relationships between the party and critical sectors of the country, including academia, civil society, development partners and the private sector.

He said that engagement framework aligned squarely with the mandate of TPI.

The chairman further disclosed that he had held discussions with the European Union on potential collaboration, particularly in the area of research and conflict management, adding that such partnerships would naturally enhance the relevance and global outlook of the Institute.

To strengthen research output and data-driven strategy, Professor Yilwatda announced plans to build more capacity in research, noting that that would directly support TPI’s work, especially in the areas of opinion polling, policy research and strategic decision-making.

“We need credible opinion polls and rigorous research to guide our strategic choices, and I expect the institute to be of immense assistance to the party in this regard,” he said.

On capacity development, the APC chairman assured that the party would engage all relevant stakeholders to ensure broad participation in TPI-led training programmes across the country.

He also pledged to explore ways of supporting the institute with land acquisition, stressing that the location must be accessible to the international community, particularly visitors arriving through Abuja’s airport.

“We must develop this institute to international standards, so that it can perform optimally and serve as a reference point for political research and training,” he added.

Earlier in his presentation, the Director General of The Progressive Institute, Dr. Lanre Adebayo, described TPI as the think tank and resource centre of the APC, designed to provide intellectual stability in an environment often characterised by political pressure and rapid decision-making.

“Political party offices are naturally intense,” Dr. Adebayo said, adding that “But an institute like this exists to create stability, reflection and structure. In political foundations worldwide, institutes of this nature are the most effective tools for assisting leadership in reforming and sustaining party systems.”

He commended the APC leadership for making the party increasingly attractive to Nigerians, noting that the surge in interest must be matched with strong ideological grounding and institutional coherence.

Adebayo outlined the institute’s achievements over the last year, highlighting a robust training and capacity-building agenda including training of stakeholders across Nigeria and Europe, as well as NGOs and intellectuals, leading to policy recommendations submitted to the president; training of electoral and local government officers, party directors, and over 5,000 relevant stakeholders in Katsina State.

Recent training programmes for commissioners, special advisers and other stakeholders in Niger State.

Ongoing preparations to train permanent secretaries and other senior public officers.

He stresses that the institute remains firmly committed to the success of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and to the effective dissemination of the Renewed Hope Agenda, ensuring that Nigerians at all levels understand and key into the President’s vision.

Adebayo disclosed that TPI was designed to be self-funding, with most of its current assets procured through proceeds from training programmes.

However, he emphasised the need for a sustainable financial framework that would allow the institute to operate independently while continuously giving back to the party.

He added that TPI had developed a strategic roadmap for international engagement, as well as a forward-looking plan for the next election cycle, with special focus on strengthening engagement with the media and non-governmental organisations, areas identified as critical but previously underutilised.

The Director General concluded by appreciating the APC chairman for the facility tour and support.

Other senior staff of the institute who received the national chairman include Mallam Sanusi, director of training and programmes; Saad, Dr. Ibor Bassey, director of finance; Egos Queen Ezuma and director of legal studies.

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