Prof. Abubakar O. Sulaiman, Director General of the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies, NILDS, has emphasized the critical role of political leadership in fostering national development.

The former minister of National Planning made this known on Tuesday during the Annual Distinguished Leadership Lecture Series organized by the Sultan Maccido Institute for Peace, Leadership, and Development Studies at the University of Abuja.

The lecture series focused on the theme “Political Leadership and Threat to Internal Security in Nigeria: Implications for Sustainable Socio-economic Development in Nigeria.””

In his address, Prof. Sulaiman highlighted the need for political leaders to embody integrity, vision, and adaptability to effectively address Nigeria’s socio-economic challenges and internal security threats.

Prof. Sulaiman also commended the University of Abuja’s leadership for sustaining the annual lecture series and underscored the importance of collaboration among federal, state, and local governments to tackle the nation’s issues. He pointed out the necessity for both kinetic and non-kinetic measures to improve security and urged political leaders to demonstrate the political will to implement people-centered policies.

The event, which also honoured the late Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammadu Maccido, saw Prof. Sulaiman encourages participants to engage actively in the discussions and appreciate the insights shared by the distinguished speakers.

During the lecture, Prof. Sulaiman was awarded a Fellow of the Peace Institute, (fpi) commended the organisers for organizing the event, noting that it aims to address the causes of internal insecurity in our country, which is crucial for national development.