Representing the Director General of National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS), Prof. Abubakar O. Sulaiman, the Director of Legal Services, Dr. Shuaibu Danwanka, charged newly admitted postgraduate students to uphold academic integrity, pursue excellence and undertake research capable of addressing Nigeria’s governance and public policy challenges.
Delivering the Director General’s address, Dr. Danwanka stated that the partnership between NILDS and the Federal University Lokoja is built on academic quality, competence, and integrity, rather than the mere award of certificates. He noted that both institutions are committed to producing graduates whose knowledge and professional abilities can withstand rigorous academic and professional scrutiny.
He highlighted the success of the collaboration, noting that the Comptroller General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Dr. Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, MFR, earned his doctorate through the partnership, while several serving and former lawmakers, alongside professionals from the public and private sectors, have also graduated or are currently enrolled in the Institute’s postgraduate programmes.
Dr. Danwanka, on behalf of the Director General, urged the matriculating students to remain committed to discipline, originality, and ethical scholarship throughout their studies. He encouraged them to attend lectures diligently, conduct original research, properly acknowledge sources, and focus on producing research that offers practical solutions to legislative, governance, and public policy challenges.
He further emphasized that postgraduate research should extend beyond academic requirements to generate ideas that strengthen legislation, improve public administration, and contribute meaningfully to democratic governance and national development.
He also conveyed the Director General’s appreciation to the management, academic and non-academic staff of both NILDS and the Federal University Lokoja for sustaining the partnership, expressing confidence that the collaboration would continue to expand through new academic programmes, stronger institutional cooperation and a vibrant alumni network that would support governance and national development.
