President Bola Tinubu has called on Nigerian policymakers and new graduates of the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS) to lead the nation’s digital transformation and economic growth.
Speaking at the graduation ceremony of Senior Executive Course 46 in Kuru, Plateau State, Tinubu, represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima, stressed the importance of policy research, youth empowerment, and technological innovation in shaping Nigeria’s future. He reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to fully digitising NIPSS operations, creating an advanced e-library, and establishing virtual learning platforms.
Tinubu highlighted Nigeria’s youthful population, which makes up over 60% of the country’s demographics, as a key driver of economic transformation. He pledged investments in broadband infrastructure, digital entrepreneurship, and the National Digital Economy Policy to unlock the full potential of young Nigerians.
“No nation that cares about its future under-funds the very institution that provides strategic insights and policy direction for national development,” he said, referencing recent government efforts to strengthen policy research institutions like NIPSS and the Oba Adetona Post-Graduate School of Policy and Governance Studies.
Additionally, he mentioned initiatives like the Renewed Hope Skills Acquisition Programme, which aims to equip young Nigerians with skills in technology, construction, and the creative industries.
In a display of innovation, graduates of Course 46 developed two humanoid robots using locally sourced materials at the National Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics (NCAIR). According to Colonel Fakandu Bala, these robots are designed to improve workplace efficiency in hospitals and government offices, demonstrating Nigeria’s capability in homegrown technological development.
