In a renewed push to reposition the Citizenship and Leadership Training Centre, the Director-General of the Centre, Rinsola Abiola, on Wednesday held high-level talks with the leadership of the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies as part of efforts to strengthen institutional capacity and drive reforms.
Abiola, who disclosed this in a post on her official X account, said she paid a courtesy visit to the Director-General of NILDS, Prof. Sulaiman Abubakar, describing the engagement as a strategic step towards repositioning the Citizenship and Leadership Training Centre for greater impact.
According to her, the visit was undertaken “in furtherance of ongoing efforts to reposition and reform CLTC,” noting that the developmental trajectory of NILDS offers valuable lessons for the Centre’s reform agenda.
She said, “Given that the developmental trajectory of NILDS closely aligns with the strategic direction envisaged for CLTC, the engagement provided an opportunity to formally introduce CLTC’s reform agenda, gain valuable insights into NILDS’ institutional growth and transformation, and explore potential areas of collaboration and partnership.”
The DG explained that her familiarity with NILDS’ evolution, drawn from her previous experience at the National Assembly, has given her a clear understanding of the deliberate reforms that have transformed the Institute into a leading legislative and democratic studies institution in Nigeria.
“I am familiar with the evolution of NILDS and the deliberate efforts that have contributed to its emergence as a leading legislative and democratic studies institution,” she stated, while commending the Director-General and the leadership of the National Assembly for what she described as their sustained commitment to institutional strengthening and excellence.
Observers say the move signals a broader strategy by the CLTC leadership to benchmark against established institutions in order to modernise its operations, deepen leadership training programmes, and enhance civic education nationwide.
Abiola expressed appreciation for the warm reception accorded her during the visit and reaffirmed her commitment to sustained engagement. “I am grateful for the warm reception and I look forward to continued engagement as we work to reposition CLTC,” she added.
As Nigeria grapples with the challenges of deepening democratic values and nurturing responsible leadership, the outcome of such institutional collaborations may prove pivotal in shaping a new generation of citizens equipped with the skills and values required for national development.
