In a major step towards strengthening inter-parliamentary relations and institutional capacity across Africa, National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies, NILDS,, is hosting Members of the Malawi Parliament and Parliamentary Service Commission for a five-day capacity-building workshop. The training, themed “Repositioning Parliamentary Administration in a Changing Global Environment: The Malawi Experience,” brings together key stakeholders to examine emerging challenges and innovative responses in legislative governance.

Delivering his welcome address at the opening ceremony, Director General of NILDS, Professor Abubakar O. Sulaiman, underscored the Institute’s commitment to fostering legislative excellence and democratic consolidation across Africa. He praised the Malawi Parliament for choosing NILDS as its preferred partner in strengthening parliamentary administration, and urged participants to leverage the platform for peer learning and institutional growth.

Speaking on behalf of the Malawi delegation, Honourable Madalitso Kazombo, First Deputy Speaker of the Malawi Parliament, expressed deep appreciation to NILDS for the warm reception and flexibility in accommodating changes to the workshop’s schedule. He emphasized the strategic importance of the training, noting that it aligns with the goals of repositioning the Malawi Parliament as a responsive, people-centered institution.

The capacity-building programme focuses on vital thematic areas such as parliamentary practices and procedures, legislative ethics, e-parliament solutions, and constituency engagement. According to Professor Sulaiman, participants are expected to not only gain valuable insights but also contribute perspectives from the Malawian legislative experience, making the engagement a true exchange of knowledge.

In his remarks, Hon. Kazombo reiterated the workshop’s relevance to Malawi’s long-term development vision Malawi 2063 which prioritizes efficient governance systems and strong democratic institutions. He affirmed that the Parliamentary Service Commission is committed to applying the knowledge gained from the training to enhance professionalism and institutional performance in Malawi’s legislative arm.

The event also highlighted the historical and diplomatic ties between Nigeria and Malawi, both Commonwealth nations. Professor Sulaiman urged the Malawian government to expedite the establishment of a resident embassy in Nigeria to deepen bilateral cooperation, especially in areas of governance and democratic support.

As the workshop continues, both NILDS and the Malawi delegation are optimistic about the outcomes of the engagement. The partnership marks another milestone in Africa-led solutions for legislative reform and institutional capacity-building, reinforcing the importance of collaboration in addressing 21st-century governance challenges.