BY OLUWASEGUN ABIFARIN
About four months ago, The Progressive Institute, TPI Commences Operation as Dr. Lanre Adebayo emerges its pioneer Director General.
The Progressive Institute is the official Think Tank and the intellectual Resource Centre of our great Party, the All-Progressives Congress (APC).
It was formally unveiled on September 6, 2024 at an elaborate ceremony which was attended by Leaders of our Party across the entire Country, members of the international community and the non-state sector in Nigeria. It is worth noting that the management of the Institute has been constituted.
The institute was established as part of the concerted efforts by the All-Progressives Congress to deepen and strengthen internal democracy, promote participatory development, while enhancing the bond between the APC and its cadres. It was also established to promote good governance across the entire Nation.
The Institute was conceived as an independent, self-sustaining entity which has been recognized by the Federal Ministry of Education as a training organization and accredited by the National Board for Technical Education as well as the Federal Ministry of Justice. It is chartered by the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) as a Company Limited by Guarantee.
The core mandate of the Institute is to undertake research, capacity building, training on leadership, good governance, political party management, development, public policy, community engagement, democratization as well as other emerging national issues in governance to all relevant political actors and stakeholders primarily under the auspices of the All Progressive Congress [APC] and then, to other persons, institutions, organizations and bodies that may be interested in the vision and mandate of the Institute.
On the TPI DG, Dr. Adebayo was a State Director with the National Orientation Agency in Ogun and Ondo States between 1994 to 2002, after which was appointed as the Executive Director in charge of Political and Civic Education in 2002 until 2010
A Journalist, Policy Analyst, Management Consultant, Conflict Management Expert, and a Development Worker, Adebayo holds the Doctor of Philosophy Degree in Public Administration specialising in Public Policy Analysis and Comparative Government of the University of Benin, Nigeria in 1999.
The DG a[so holds a Master of Arts, MA degree in International Relations of the University of Keele, England, 1984, and the Higher Diploma in Journalism and Mass Communication of the College of Journalism, Fleet Street, London in 1982. He had earlier obtained his Diploma in Journalism from the Nigerian Institute of Journalism in 1980.
He was at various times a reporter with the NTA, a freelance journalist with the West Africa Magazine, London. Dr. Adebayo was a lecturer in Public Policy and Public Administration with the then Ogun State University (now Olabisi Onabanjo University). He was Chair of the Department’s Post Graduate Committee which introduced the Master’s Degree programme in Public Administration of the University.
In terms of work career, Dr. Adebayo was the Head of the Political Education Department of the defunct Directorate for Social Mobilization in Ogun State. He introduced the Rural Development Network which was a critical platform for community and rural mobilisation and development.
He was the State Director with the National Orientation Agency in Ogun and Ondo States between 1994 to 2002, after which was appointed as the Executive Director in charge of Political and Civic Education in 2002 until 2010.
During his tenure, he initiated and chaired the National Technical Committee on Civic Education. The Committee commissioned the Team of Experts that developed the Civic Education Manual. The Civic Education manual was the intellectual material that was utilized to develop Nigeria’s Curriculum on Civic Education. Dr Adebayo was a member of the Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council’s High-Level Policy Team which developed the current civic education curriculum. The course was made compulsory in the Country in 2007 by the National Council on Education.
He also initiated and chaired the Government Civil Society Partnership Programme of the Federal Government. The Programme interfaced with the Civil society sector on behalf of the Federal Government and organised the first and so far, the only Retreat for the sector in the Country. It was under this programme that a Community Governance Peace Building Programme was executed in the Niger Delta
It should be noted that both the Civic Education and the Civil Society Partnership programme did not receive any government funding. They were funded through grants from the World Bank, United States Agency for International Development and the United Nations Development Programme.
Dr. Adebayo was Executive Secretary, Centre for Applied Policy and Social Advocacy between 2010 to 2013. During this period, he secured and supervised a British Council funded programme on Peace Building in the North Eastern part of the Country.
He was the Director General of the Institute for Governance and Leadership Studies in Africa, an International Non-State Intellectual and Professional Resource Centre with focus on governance and leadership training and research. A multi-disciplinary Centre, it is chartered by the Federal Government as a training institution with the capacity to award its own diplomas subject to moderation by the Federal Ministry of Education. The Institute currently has Nigeria’s former Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon, GCFR, PhD as its President.
With this heavy background, not a few Nigerians were surprised that Dr. Adebayo was recently appointed as the pioneer Director General/CEO of The Progressive Institute, the Policy Think Tank and Intellectual Resource Centre of the All-Progressive Congress (APC)
The newly established Policy Think Tank and Intellectual Resource Centre of the ruling All Progress Congress, APC, The Progressive Institute, TPI has commenced operation with the setting up of its pioneer management in Abuja.
According to Mohammed Garba the chief of staff to the party’s National Chairman, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, “the National Working Committee, NWC of the party has approved the appointment of TPI management team with one director from each of the six geo political zone of Nigeria”. Garba added that the appointment was based on merit as their credentials were duly scrutinized. Three of the directors have been cleared with three others under scrutiny “.
“TPI is taking off as we are working on its take off funding right now. It’s going to be self-sustaining within short period of time. The institute is working at a fast speed and it will be unveiled in the next couples of weeks”, he said.
Dr. Adebayo was appointed in view of the pivotal role he played in the establishment of the Institute and against the background of his expertise in journalism, management consultancy and as a university Lecturer in public policy.
Since his appointment, the TPI has become a beehive of activities and events: For instance, tShe Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs. Esther Didi Walson Jack will formally declare open a three-day Master Class for senior government officials on 4th November, 2024.
The special Master Class leading to the award of certificate from the University of London is to be held in Abuja and Lagos.
The Director General, DG of The Progressive Institute, TPI Lanre Adebayo, PhD stated this in Abuja last Friday.
According to the DG ”the masterclass is a joint initiative of our Institute, TPI, the London School of Economics (a College of the University of London) and Messrs Brain Box Labs. It focuses on two main themes which are: governance and Leadership”
The three-day Masterclass, according to Dr. Adebayo is being organized against the background of the need to upskill people in leadership positions at both the public and private sectors in both the developed and emerging economies of the world.
The program, according to him, will improve the knowledge of the participants in governance and leadership. This according to TPI DG is critical to the sustainable development of the advance economies and fundamental to the growth of the emerging world economies. The Masterclass is therefore a major contribution to the efforts to address contemporary global challenges through providing best practices in the key areas of governance, policy implementations and good governance.
Before now, the TPI DG while addressing leaders of IPAC who paid him a courtesy visit at the institute in Abuja has lamented that the lack of adequate supports for the political party in the country. He noted that this has been affecting the quality of leadership the country produced over the years.
‘’You can’t be a President or Governor without being sponsored by a political party in Nigeria. The party gives birth to government and so, the party needs to be treated better than what is currently obtainable to be able to discharge its duties effectively’’.
Dr. Adebayo who applauds IPAC for its role at ensuring peaceful democratic transitions in the country charges IPAC leadership to develop more capacity building mechanisms for the development of the political parties in Nigeria, adding that someone cannot give what he does not have. ‘’You can’t produce quality elected officials when you have no quality party. Political parties should be strong enough to produce quality and competent candidates hence the need to invest in political parties’ structures and development’’.
On October 20, 2024, a United Kingdom, UK based leadership and skills acquisition training expert, Professor David Bruce Day has pledged his supports and that of his Nigerian counterparts to the newly established All Progressives Congress, APC Think Tank, The Progressive Institute, TPI.
David vows to facilitate skills acquisition, entrepreneur and leadership training programs for Nigerians so as to raise dynamic leaders and people who could affect real change in the country.
David, who is the Chief Executive Officer, CEO of International Collaboration in Business Innovation with Technology and Science. He led delegates of other experts including Samson Adeosun, Managing Director of ASQ Development & Training Services Limited and Dr. Usman Paiko Chiroma, National Secretary, Association of Integrative Medicines of Nigeria on a courtesy visit to the TPI in Abuja on Friday.
The international experts hail the APC leadership for appointing Dr. Lanre Adebayo as the pioneer Director General, DG of the TPI, describing him as an exceptional governance and leadership specialist.
“We are here to intimate you of our resolve to help you deliver your mandate without stress. We have studied the mission of the TPI and we realized the need to support you in training dynamic leaders that could effect meaningful changes in the country”
The essence of public service cannot be achieved without an effective communication. This was the submission of the Director General of The Progressive Institute, TPI, Lanre Adebayo, in early October in Abuja during a Specialized One Day Retreat for senior staff of the Federal Ministry of Arts, Culture and Creative Economy and its counterpart in Ministry of Tourism
Adebayo who was a guest lecturer at the event spoke on the theme: Effective communication and Collaboration for Organizational Productivity and Excellence. The TPI DG charges public servants to inculcate the use of simple, short and concise language, noting that communication has not taken place when the audience could not understand what is being said.
‘’Wherever you find yourselves, please inculcate the spirit of effective communication. Communication is vital to transmit government policies and decisions to the mass populace. If you fail to communicate effectively, your enemies will communicate what you don’t like to your audience’’, he said.
A communication expert, Adebayo added that training and retraining for public servants is very essential because it enhances productivity.
“If you want to change people, communicate to them. If you want to change the future of the society, communicate effectively. Non effective communication gives room for misconceptions and this brings about crisis while effective communication promotes inclusiveness in public service and guarantees societal peace and stability’’.
Adebayo who harps on collaboration and team work as a tool to accelerate development encourages public servants to develop themselves in research and public speaking. He urges participants at the retreat to master the spirit of listening, adding that a good speaker is a good listener.
‘’Don’t be an ignorant, study hard. Do more research, familiarize yourself with rules and regulations of government agencies such as ICPC, EFCC, Code of Conduct Bureau as well as the constitution of Nigeria. This will enable you to discharge your duty effectively without hindrance’’, the TPI DG said as he engaged directors, special assistants, senior special advisers, head of agencies and parastatals of the two ministries in a lively interactive session.
Since the DG has resumed his work at the APC Secretariat, not a few analysts have lauded his experiences and dedication to duty!
Abifarin is a veteran journalist and Publisher of NewsroomNigeria, www.newsroomnigeria.com
