Nigeria’s Minister of National Planning Dr Shamsudeen Usman has urged Nigerian leaders to make “thinking” a priority.The former minister spoke Monday at a roundtable organized by the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies,NIPSS in Abuja. The conference which was on “Repositioning Think-Tanks for Effective Engagement in Public Policy” was held at NICON luxury hotel in Abuja.
Addressing the participants and guests at the conference,Dr Usman observed that rather than focus on the role of think-tanks, he believes the conference should be examining the role “thinking” adequately. “Because we don’t do enough thinking in this country,” he said.
Narrating his experience , the ex-minister recalled how he had gathered people to think through issues and asked questions while he was in government but his approach earned him the derogatory label of being an “acada.”
Looking more closely, he said that if Monday’s conference or occasion was about a more “juicy” issue,(a term he hates to use) the hall would have been filled beyond capacity. Unfortunately, he noted most of the key personalities invited simply sent representatives.
However, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo who was represented by Mr Akin Soetan,Senior Technical Assistant to the President on Economic Matters reiterated the importance of think-tanks .He observed that the present world ‘requires a knowledge driven approach to issues.’ The vice President urged institutions to take deeper, robust approach to their functions as think tanks henceforth.He hailed NIPSS for stepping forward to ensure repositioning of think- tanks.Osinbajo also urged think- tanks to provide workable solutions, as well as explore new communication platforms among others.
Senate President Ahmad Lawan who was represented by Senator Borofice commended the conference initiative just as he recognized the place of think tanks as incubators for nurturing ideas for public policy to drive development.
In his address, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation,Boss Mustapha, represented by a Permanent Secretary,Olusegun Adekunle, pledged that government ensure that think-tanks are represented in critical committees.He expressed the resolve of the Muhammadu Buhari government to welcome great minds with ideas to move the country forward.The SGF said government looks forward to receiving the outcomes of the conference.
Also, the Chief of Defence Staff, General Abayomi Olonisakin, interim Chairman, Board of NIPSS, who was represented by AVM Nurudeen Balogun.Olonisakin,expressed appreciation for the conference initiative and urged the meeting to proffer solutions towards resolving challenges facing the country
Speaking earlier, former Inspector General of Police,MD Abubakar,mni also President of the Alumni Association of the National Institute, emphasised the need for strategic think-tanks to be purposeful and useful to the country and . He called for collaboration between NIPSS and AANI in order to add value to governance.
Goodwill messages were also delivered by the Minister of Finance Zainab Shamsunna Ahmed and Foreign Affairs,Godfrey Onyeama who were also represented at the event .Mohammed Dikko,mni who represented the finance minister underlined the readiness of the ministry to partner with NIPSS.The finance minister commended NIPSS for its critical works on areas of accountability,transparency,security and revenue generation among others.
While welcoming the participants,the Director General of NIPSS,Professor Habu Galadima said “ this Roundtable offers a unique opportunity for strategic think tanks in Nigeria to update their business models for effective engagement in public policy by providing evidence-based inputs into decision making process of government”
Galadima also pointed out that “ the environment we live today ,is becoming more volatile,uncertain,complex and ambiguous that challenges the imagination of think tanks all over the world.
He said,“Think tanks possess the ability to broker ideas,stimulate public debate and offer creative yet practical solutions to tackle myriad problems.They have the challenge of constantly mobilizing the expertise and networks to continuously get ideas into a government agenda
“Think tanks have evolved beyond mere research institutions into opinion creators and constantly casting light on policy issues,analyzing and measuring their impact and getting research into policy”, the NIPSS DG said.
