NILDS, CELCE AFRICA Hold Creative Leadership and Legislative Summit

National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS), in partnership with the Centre for Leadership and Creative Entrepreneurs in Africa (CELCE AFRICA), on Wednesday, October 21, 2026, held a Creative Leadership and Legislative Summit at the NILDS Permanent Site, Abuja, to promote effective legislative leadership, evidence-based policymaking and national development beyond the 2027 elections.

The summit, themed “Beyond 2027: Legislative Intelligence, People-Focused Policy and National Prosperity,” brought together stakeholders to examine the role of legislative institutions in strengthening democratic governance and advancing national prosperity.

Delivering the keynote address on behalf of the Director General of NILDS, Professor Abubakar Olanrewaju Sulaiman, the Director of the Department of Democracy and Governance, Dr. Chris Ngara, emphasised that Nigeria’s democratic future depends not merely on elections but on the quality of its institutions, leadership and public policies.

Dr. Ngara explained that the theme challenged Nigerians to look beyond the 2027 electoral cycle and consider the kind of country they aspire to build, as well as the institutions and leadership capacity required to achieve sustainable development.

He described legislative intelligence as the ability to analyse evidence, identify emerging trends, assess policy alternatives and make informed decisions in the public interest. He stressed that proposed laws should be guided by credible research, the needs of affected communities, implementation requirements and their potential consequences.

The keynote speaker highlighted NILDS’ role in strengthening legislative and democratic processes through research, capacity development, policy analysis and knowledge support for effective lawmaking. He noted that legislative institutions must adapt to emerging challenges, including artificial intelligence, climate change, cybersecurity, digital finance, food security and changing employment patterns.

On people-focused policymaking, Dr. Ngara stressed that citizens should not be regarded merely as voters during elections but as stakeholders whose experiences and perspectives should inform public policy. He called for inclusive legislative processes that consider the needs of young people, women, persons with disabilities, entrepreneurs, researchers and underserved communities.

He reaffirmed NILDS’ commitment to supporting research, capacity development and policy engagement, urging participants to translate the summit’s discussions into practical recommendations and partnerships that would strengthen democratic institutions and improve governance outcomes.

Earlier, the Chief Executive Director of CELCE AFRICA, Ambassador Kingsley Enwelim Nwanze, described the summit’s theme as timely and forward-looking, stressing that legislative performance should be measured by the positive impact of laws on citizens’ lives rather than the number of bills passed.

He called for stronger legislative research, improved stakeholder consultation, entrepreneurial development and greater accountability in public institutions. He also appreciated the Director General of NILDS for providing the venue at no cost and acknowledged the support of Dr. Abiodun Mangari, Chief Executive Officer of Mangari Global Limited, and Hon. Princess Chinyere Ike.

The summit underscored the importance of evidence-based legislation, inclusive policymaking and effective legislative leadership in advancing Nigeria’s democratic development and national prosperity beyond 2027.