₦airaland Forum

Abuja, Nigeria

August 24, 2026



The Alumni Association of the National Institute (AANI) warmly celebrates His Eminence, Alhaji Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar, CFR, mni (SEC 28, 2006), the Sultan of Sokoto and Chairman of the AANI Heritage Council, on the occasion of his 70th birthday anniversary.



In a statement issued by the National Publicity Secretary of AANI, Dr. Babade Bamidele Amos, mni, the President of the Association, Ambassador Emmanuel Obi Okafor, mni, on behalf of the National Executive Committee and the entire AANI family, described the Sultan as “a quintessential and unassuming royal leader, distinguished statesman, patriot, and a symbol of wisdom, peace, unity, and service to humanity.”



AANI noted that His Eminence occupies a distinguished place within the National Institute family, having participated in the prestigious Senior Executive Course 28 in 2006, and has continued to exemplify the values of strategic leadership, national service, and responsible citizenship.



The Association further acknowledged the Sultan’s distinguished military career in the Nigerian Army, where he served in various strategic capacities and rose to the rank of Brigadier General before ascending the throne of the Sokoto Caliphate in 2006.



Since his ascension as the 20th Sultan of Sokoto, His Eminence has provided remarkable leadership as a revered traditional and religious authority, while championing peace, national unity, interfaith dialogue, religious tolerance, and harmonious coexistence among Nigerians.



As the spiritual leader of Nigeria’s Muslim community and President-General of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), the Sultan has consistently deployed his influence and wisdom in promoting peaceful coexistence, national cohesion, and the collective advancement of the country.



“AANI celebrates His Eminence not only as a revered royal father and religious leader, but also as a distinguished alumnus, elder statesman, bridge-builder, patriot, and an embodiment of humility and service whose contributions continue to inspire generations,” the statement added.



The Association described the Sultan’s 70 years of life and service as a remarkable testament to leadership, sacrifice, wisdom, integrity, and commitment to the peace and progress of Nigeria.



AANI prayed that Almighty Allah (SWT) will continue to grant His Eminence excellent health, greater wisdom, strength, peace, divine protection, and many more years of purposeful and impactful service to humanity and the nation.



Yours Towards a Better Society,



Engr. Ifeanyi Jude Ngama, mni

National Publicity Secretary,

AANI

The President of the Alumni Association of the National Institute (AANI), Ambassador Emmanuel Obi Okafor, mni, on behalf of the National Executive Committee and the entire AANI family, rises with profound reverence to felicitate with a distinguished elder statesman, military icon, and one of the most consequential figures in Nigeria's political history, General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida, GCFR, mni (SEC 1, 1979), on the glorious occasion of his 85th birthday today, Monday, 17th August, 2026.

General Babangida occupies a unique and towering place in the annals of Nigeria's history. From his formative years as a young officer who fought with distinction in the Nigerian Civil War, he rose through decades of military service to attain the rank of General and ultimately serve as Nigeria's Military President from 1985 to 1993, a period that profoundly shaped the nation's political, economic, and social landscape in ways that continue to reverberate to this day.

As Military President, his administration oversaw landmark continental milestones, including the signing of the Abuja Treaty that established the African Economic Community, the projection of Nigeria as a dominant regional power through military engagements in Liberia and Sierra Leone under ECOMOG, and the implementation of significant economic liberalisation and privatisation reforms. His regime also witnessed the establishment of the Nigerian Stock Exchange's modern framework and numerous institutional developments that continue to define Nigeria's public life.

A member of the pioneering Senior Executive Course 1 of the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies in 1979, General Babangida's association with NIPSS dates to the very founding of that institution, making him one of the most senior and historically significant alumni of the National Institute. His presence in that maiden course reflects a career that has always understood the indispensable value of strategic thinking and policy leadership.

In his post-presidential life, General Babangida has remained a respected elder statesman, whose counsel is sought on matters of national and continental importance. His life, lived at the very pinnacle of military command and national leadership for over three decades, remains one of the most storied in Nigerian history.

The AANI family proudly celebrates this exceptional elder statesman, military icon, and proud pioneer of our great Association. We pray that Almighty God continues to bless His Excellency with robust health, enduring peace, boundless strength, and the deep fulfilment of a life extraordinarily and honourably lived.


Yours Towards a Better Society,

Engr. Ifeanyi Jude Ngama mni
National Publicity Secretary,
AANI,
Monday, 17th August, 2026.

There comes a time in the life of every community when its elites must speak - not because they possess a monopoly of wisdom, nor because they seek to determine the political choices of others, but because silence in the face of an emerging social dilemma can itself become a failure of responsibility.
The growing political conversation in Gombe State, particularly as it relates to the leadership aspirations associated with Professor Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami, presents such a moment. My concern here is neither with the personality of Professor Pantami nor with the constitutional right of any Nigerian citizen to participate in politics. It is about something larger: the place of religious authority in partisan political competition and the danger of converting spiritual capital into political capital.
Professor Pantami is an accomplished scholar, former public office holder and, importantly for this discussion, a highly recognisable Islamic scholar and preacher. It is that latter identity which makes the question worthy of sober reflection.
What particularly inspired me to write this reflection is an experience that has become increasingly difficult to ignore. Outside Gombe State, in conversations with mutual friends and acquaintances - and especially among some followers of Professor Pantami’s well-known Ramadan tafsir at Al-Nur Mosque in Abuja, Capital of Nigeria, the moment they encounter someone from Gombe, the questions now come almost instinctively: “What about Pantami’s candidature?” “What is going to happen in Gombe come 2027?” I have encountered these questions often enough to appreciate that what might ordinarily have been regarded as a local political aspiration has assumed a wider significance precisely because of the personality involved. Interestingly, people are not merely asking about another prospective candidate; they are asking about Professor Pantami - the scholar, the preacher and the religious figure they have listened to and followed over the years. It was this recurring experience that compelled me to reflect more deeply on where the boundaries between spiritual influence and partisan aspiration ought to lie, and whether society should remain indifferent when a religious personality of considerable following becomes the subject of an intensely political conversation.
Islam does not require scholars to be indifferent to governance. On the contrary, justice, consultation (shura), trust (amanah), accountability and concern for public welfare are deeply embedded in Islamic political ethics. Contemporary scholarship continues to emphasise these principles, while Islamic political thought has long recognised consultation in public affairs as an important element of legitimate governance.
Indeed, there is a legitimate school of thought that goes further and argues that the ulama should actively participate in politics and even seek political office. Recent Nigerian scholarship has defended precisely that position. I respect that argument. But there is an equally important distinction between religion guiding politics and religious authority becoming partisan politics.
A scholar may teach a governor justice without becoming a candidate for governor. An Imam may condemn corruption without carrying the flag of a political party. A preacher may mobilise society against poverty, drug abuse, ignorance and injustice without asking his congregation to become his electoral constituency.
Indeed, the religious leader who remains above partisan struggle may possess something even a governor does not possess: the moral authority to correct every governor.
Once the revered scholar enters partisan competition, however, the dynamics inevitably change.
Opponents must scrutinise him. Political rivals must challenge him. Campaigners may ridicule his record. His statements will be dissected. His followers may interpret political criticism as an attack upon their faith or their teacher. Conversely, his opponents may begin transferring their resentment of the politician to the religious institution he represents. That is where society must be careful.
My appeal regarding Professor Pantami should therefore not be misunderstood as hostility to him. Quite the contrary. It arises partly from recognising the enormous religious influence he already commands. The question Gombe people should ask is not simply: Can Professor Pantami become Governor? As a
citizen, that is fundamentally a matter for law, politics and the electorate. The deeper question is: What does our society gain or lose when a prominent religious authority descends from the relatively universal platform of spiritual leadership into the divisive arena of partisan competition? (This similar question was also asked and attested to, by the cleric himself, at the time when the scripture was handy and the desire for worldly things did not germinate to fruition).
A governorship lasts four years at a time. Moral influence can endure generations. Politics necessarily divides people into camps. Religion, at its highest calling, should reconcile them.
Politics asks: Who defeated whom?
Faith asks: What is right?
Politics produces government and opposition. The religious leader ought ideally to retain the moral freedom to speak truth to both.
Nigeria’s experience demonstrates how delicate the relationship between religion and politics already is. Academic work has documented the complexity of religious identity within Nigerian politics and the potential of religious competition to affect Christian-Muslim relations and national cohesion. Nigeria’s constitutional architecture itself prohibits the adoption of a state religion while protecting freedom of religion, reflecting the need to accommodate a profoundly plural society.
Only yesterday, more than fifty Muslim and Christian leaders in Nigeria came together in Abuja around an interfaith peace initiative aimed at religious harmony and curbing extremism and hate speech. That illustrates the higher role religious leadership can play: standing above political divisions to preserve society itself.
This tension is not peculiar to Islam or Nigeria. Different societies have adopted different approaches. In some democracies, clergy participate actively in political life; in others, religious traditions deliberately create distance between spiritual authority and partisan politics. Comparative research, for example, notes the striking contrast between Thailand, where Buddhist monks face strong restrictions on electoral political activity, and Sri Lanka, where monks have a tradition of direct parliamentary participation.
Christianity has wrestled with the same question. The Catholic tradition, for instance, strongly encourages responsible political participation by the faithful while maintaining an important distinction between the vocation of lay citizens in political life and the special ecclesiastical responsibilities of religious leadership.
And recent events elsewhere demonstrate what can happen when institutional religion becomes deeply entangled with partisan confrontation. Armenia’s continuing confrontation between political authorities and senior church figures illustrates how quickly disputes involving clergy and government can place religious institutions themselves at the centre of political conflict.
We should learn without blindly copying anyone. The fact that something occurs in an advanced democracy does not automatically make it desirable for Gombe. Democracy gives people rights; wisdom teaches us that possessing a right does not mean exercising it in every circumstance is necessarily the highest service one can render society.
Permit me to use an analogy from another great challenge confronting mankind. The world has spent enormous intellectual, scientific and financial resources studying climate change and environmental degradation. Nations establish institutions, scientists conduct research, communities advocate conservation, and governments enter international agreements to protect the environment. I recall, from my privilege of attending the United Nations climate conferences (COP26) in Glasgow and COP27 in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt - how leaders of repute from different nations, faiths and intellectual traditions repeatedly spoke of a responsibility extending beyond the present generation. The recurring message was that mankind holds the earth in trust and must act collectively to protect not only those living today, but generations yet unborn from the consequences of climate change. That experience left a lasting impression on me: whatever our faith or station in life, responsible stewardship requires us sometimes to look beyond our immediate interests and ask what kind of world - and, equally, what kind of society - we shall bequeath to those who come after us.
For a believer, none of this means that Allah did not know from the beginning how the earth would evolve or when its existence would terminate. Divine knowledge does not abolish human responsibility.
We plant trees despite believing in destiny.
We treat illness despite believing that life and death belong to Allah.
We protect children despite believing that Allah is their ultimate Protector.
We pursue peace despite knowing that conflict forms part of human history.

Therefore, faith in divine decree can never become an excuse for abandoning human stewardship. The same principle should guide us in protecting the moral environment of society. Just as humanity accepts a collective responsibility to preserve the physical environment, religious leaders have an even greater responsibility to preserve our moral environment - truth, compassion, dignity, justice, restraint, tolerance, family, neighbourliness and respect for human life.
These values are not exclusively Muslim or Christian. People who profess neither Christianity nor Islam recognise honesty, human dignity, justice, compassion and peaceful coexistence as foundations of civilisation.
That universality should tell us something profound: religion is at its greatest when it elevates humanity rather than when it merely enlarges a political constituency. This is therefore my respectful appeal to our Imams, ulama, pastors, priests and other custodians of faith.
Participate in the moral development of politics. Educate citizens. Challenge bad government. Condemn corruption. Demand justice. Defend the poor. Counsel those in authority. Encourage competent people to seek office. Teach followers that selling votes is morally destructive. Pray for leaders and, when necessary, courageously correct them. But we must think very carefully before transforming the pulpit itself into a political platform.
A religious leader who endorses Candidate A risks making the followers of Candidate B uncomfortable in his congregation. A scholar who becomes Candidate A creates an even more complicated situation: criticism of the candidate may be mistaken for disrespect toward the scholar, while loyalty to the scholar may be converted into an electoral obligation. That is unhealthy both for religion and democracy.
This concern has also appeared in Nigerian public debate: even commentators who recognise the constitutional right of clerics to participate politically have argued that the special respect commanded by religious leaders creates a compelling case for neutrality and statesmanship. Our scholars should be fathers to competing politicians, not competitors against their spiritual children.
Let the politician fear that tomorrow the Sheikh may publicly tell him he has acted unjustly. Let the governor know that the Imam cannot be bought with appointment. Let the opposition know that the scholar will condemn its falsehood just as firmly as government’s wrongdoing. That independence is power.
I therefore address Professor Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami with respect. Lest Professor Pantami wonders, perhaps with some amusement, why this elitist counsel appears to have chosen his name from among the many who aspire to political leadership in Gombe, the explanation is itself a compliment carrying a burden. He is no longer perceived merely as Isa Ali Pantami, the private citizen or former Minister; through decades of preaching, teaching and public engagement, he has become, rightly or wrongly, one of the most visible contemporary faces of Sunni Islamic scholarship in Nigeria, particularly to a
generation of Muslims who have listened to and learned from him. History has a curious way of attaching scholars to the intellectual traditions they publicly represent: centuries later, we still speak of Arab and Muslim scholars such as Ibn Khaldun not principally because of whatever ordinary ambitions surrounded their private lives, but because scholarship became their enduring identity. Professor Pantami may therefore forgive some of us for expecting more restraint from him than we might demand from an ordinary politician. One cannot enjoy the extraordinary moral capital of the scholar and, at the same time, reasonably expect society to treat one’s entry into partisan politics as though it were merely the career progression of another politician. The greater the religious stature society confers upon a person, the greater, rather inconveniently, becomes society’s legitimate concern about how that stature is deployed. There are victories greater than winning an election. There are positions higher than occupying Government House. There are constituencies larger than a state. A man who has acquired considerable knowledge, international exposure, national public-service experience and a large following has several avenues through which he can influence generations without necessarily becoming governor.
He can produce leaders.
He can mentor governments.
He can build institutions.
He can reconcile political adversaries.
He can speak for Gombe before every government irrespective of which party controls it.
And, most importantly, he can remain a religious voice to whom the winner and loser of an election can both comfortably turn.

Gombe needs good governors. But Gombe also needs respected elders and scholars who are bigger than its governorship contests.
This appeal does not question anyone’s qualification, patriotism or constitutional liberty. Nor should anybody weaponize religion against Professor Pantami or any other aspirant. It is instead an invitation to contemplate the price society may unknowingly pay when its most influential spiritual authorities become actors in the fierce competition for political power.
We must also remember that posterity will sit in judgment over the choices we make today, long after we have departed this world. History will be less concerned with the passions, ambitions and political calculations of our moment than with whether our actions ultimately served the common good of the weal and strengthened or diminished the society entrusted to us. As elites and custodians of faith, culture and communal values, ours is therefore a responsibility that transcends personalities, elections and generations. We are expected to leave behind a moral compass by which society can distinguish power from service, ambition from sacrifice, and what is merely permissible from what is ultimately beneficial. Our duty is not only to preserve religious doctrine and cultural heritage, but also to protect and sanctify the moral foundations of society itself - to nurture justice, restraint, tolerance, dignity and peaceful coexistence. The true measure of our stewardship will consequently not be the political victories achieved in our lifetime, but whether generations yet unborn inherit from us a society whose moral institutions remain strong enough to guide them when we are no longer here to speak.
Those of us who speak as elites or elders must think beyond the next election. The real question is not who governs Gombe from 2027. The greater question is what kind of Gombe we shall hand over to our children twenty or thirty years from now.
Will they inherit mosques divided according to political camps?
Will scholars be classified according to parties?
Will sermons be interpreted through electoral affiliations?
Will criticism of a politician who happens to be a scholar be regarded as hostility towards religion?

Or shall they inherit a society where the mosque remains a sanctuary for the supporter of every lawful political tendency; where the scholar can rebuke the government without being called opposition; and where he can correct the opposition without being called an agent of government? That is the Gombe I would rather preserve. Political power is temporary. Religious institutions outlive administrations. Governments come and go; faith accompanies communities across generations. Therefore, to Professor Pantami and every distinguished religious leader contemplating partisan political leadership, I offer not condemnation but an elitist’s appeal: Consider not merely whether you can win political power, but whether the moral authority you already possess is more valuable to society than the political authority you seek.
And to our people, let us never turn this question into hostility. Let us debate it with knowledge, dignity and brotherhood. For ultimately, the responsibility of the believer is not merely to prepare humanity for the Hereafter. It is also to make our temporary residence on earth more just, peaceful, dignified and humane. Just as we preserve the earth because it has been entrusted to mankind, we must preserve the sanctity of faith because it too is a trust. Politics needs the guidance of religion. But religion does not always need the possession of political power to provide that guidance. Sometimes its greatest power lies precisely in remaining sufficiently above the contest to speak truth to whoever wins it.


Signed:
Umar Usman Kukandaka, mni
K/Kumbia Quarters, Gombe
Gombe State

There comes a time in the life of every community when its elites must speak - not because they possess a monopoly of wisdom, nor because they seek to determine the political choices of others, but because silence in the face of an emerging social dilemma can itself become a failure of responsibility.
The growing political conversation in Gombe State, particularly as it relates to the leadership aspirations associated with Professor Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami, presents such a moment. My concern here is neither with the personality of Professor Pantami nor with the constitutional right of any Nigerian citizen to participate in politics. It is about something larger: the place of religious authority in partisan political competition and the danger of converting spiritual capital into political capital.
Professor Pantami is an accomplished scholar, former public office holder and, importantly for this discussion, a highly recognisable Islamic scholar and preacher. It is that latter identity which makes the question worthy of sober reflection.
What particularly inspired me to write this reflection is an experience that has become increasingly difficult to ignore. Outside Gombe State, in conversations with mutual friends and acquaintances - and especially among some followers of Professor Pantami’s well-known Ramadan tafsir at Al-Nur Mosque in Abuja, Capital of Nigeria, the moment they encounter someone from Gombe, the questions now come almost instinctively: “What about Pantami’s candidature?” “What is going to happen in Gombe come 2027?” I have encountered these questions often enough to appreciate that what might ordinarily have been regarded as a local political aspiration has assumed a wider significance precisely because of the personality involved. Interestingly, people are not merely asking about another prospective candidate; they are asking about Professor Pantami - the scholar, the preacher and the religious figure they have listened to and followed over the years. It was this recurring experience that compelled me to reflect more deeply on where the boundaries between spiritual influence and partisan aspiration ought to lie, and whether society should remain indifferent when a religious personality of considerable following becomes the subject of an intensely political conversation.
Islam does not require scholars to be indifferent to governance. On the contrary, justice, consultation (shura), trust (amanah), accountability and concern for public welfare are deeply embedded in Islamic political ethics. Contemporary scholarship continues to emphasise these principles, while Islamic political thought has long recognised consultation in public affairs as an important element of legitimate governance.
Indeed, there is a legitimate school of thought that goes further and argues that the ulama should actively participate in politics and even seek political office. Recent Nigerian scholarship has defended precisely that position. I respect that argument. But there is an equally important distinction between religion guiding politics and religious authority becoming partisan politics.
A scholar may teach a governor justice without becoming a candidate for governor. An Imam may condemn corruption without carrying the flag of a political party. A preacher may mobilise society against poverty, drug abuse, ignorance and injustice without asking his congregation to become his electoral constituency.
Indeed, the religious leader who remains above partisan struggle may possess something even a governor does not possess: the moral authority to correct every governor.
Once the revered scholar enters partisan competition, however, the dynamics inevitably change.
Opponents must scrutinise him. Political rivals must challenge him. Campaigners may ridicule his record. His statements will be dissected. His followers may interpret political criticism as an attack upon their faith or their teacher. Conversely, his opponents may begin transferring their resentment of the politician to the religious institution he represents. That is where society must be careful.
My appeal regarding Professor Pantami should therefore not be misunderstood as hostility to him. Quite the contrary. It arises partly from recognising the enormous religious influence he already commands. The question Gombe people should ask is not simply: Can Professor Pantami become Governor? As a
citizen, that is fundamentally a matter for law, politics and the electorate. The deeper question is: What does our society gain or lose when a prominent religious authority descends from the relatively universal platform of spiritual leadership into the divisive arena of partisan competition? (This similar question was also asked and attested to, by the cleric himself, at the time when the scripture was handy and the desire for worldly things did not germinate to fruition).
A governorship lasts four years at a time. Moral influence can endure generations. Politics necessarily divides people into camps. Religion, at its highest calling, should reconcile them.
Politics asks: Who defeated whom?
Faith asks: What is right?
Politics produces government and opposition. The religious leader ought ideally to retain the moral freedom to speak truth to both.
Nigeria’s experience demonstrates how delicate the relationship between religion and politics already is. Academic work has documented the complexity of religious identity within Nigerian politics and the potential of religious competition to affect Christian-Muslim relations and national cohesion. Nigeria’s constitutional architecture itself prohibits the adoption of a state religion while protecting freedom of religion, reflecting the need to accommodate a profoundly plural society.
Only yesterday, more than fifty Muslim and Christian leaders in Nigeria came together in Abuja around an interfaith peace initiative aimed at religious harmony and curbing extremism and hate speech. That illustrates the higher role religious leadership can play: standing above political divisions to preserve society itself.
This tension is not peculiar to Islam or Nigeria. Different societies have adopted different approaches. In some democracies, clergy participate actively in political life; in others, religious traditions deliberately create distance between spiritual authority and partisan politics. Comparative research, for example, notes the striking contrast between Thailand, where Buddhist monks face strong restrictions on electoral political activity, and Sri Lanka, where monks have a tradition of direct parliamentary participation.
Christianity has wrestled with the same question. The Catholic tradition, for instance, strongly encourages responsible political participation by the faithful while maintaining an important distinction between the vocation of lay citizens in political life and the special ecclesiastical responsibilities of religious leadership.
And recent events elsewhere demonstrate what can happen when institutional religion becomes deeply entangled with partisan confrontation. Armenia’s continuing confrontation between political authorities and senior church figures illustrates how quickly disputes involving clergy and government can place religious institutions themselves at the centre of political conflict.
We should learn without blindly copying anyone. The fact that something occurs in an advanced democracy does not automatically make it desirable for Gombe. Democracy gives people rights; wisdom teaches us that possessing a right does not mean exercising it in every circumstance is necessarily the highest service one can render society.
Permit me to use an analogy from another great challenge confronting mankind. The world has spent enormous intellectual, scientific and financial resources studying climate change and environmental degradation. Nations establish institutions, scientists conduct research, communities advocate conservation, and governments enter international agreements to protect the environment. I recall, from my privilege of attending the United Nations climate conferences (COP26) in Glasgow and COP27 in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt - how leaders of repute from different nations, faiths and intellectual traditions repeatedly spoke of a responsibility extending beyond the present generation. The recurring message was that mankind holds the earth in trust and must act collectively to protect not only those living today, but generations yet unborn from the consequences of climate change. That experience left a lasting impression on me: whatever our faith or station in life, responsible stewardship requires us sometimes to look beyond our immediate interests and ask what kind of world - and, equally, what kind of society - we shall bequeath to those who come after us.
For a believer, none of this means that Allah did not know from the beginning how the earth would evolve or when its existence would terminate. Divine knowledge does not abolish human responsibility.
We plant trees despite believing in destiny.
We treat illness despite believing that life and death belong to Allah.
We protect children despite believing that Allah is their ultimate Protector.
We pursue peace despite knowing that conflict forms part of human history.

Therefore, faith in divine decree can never become an excuse for abandoning human stewardship. The same principle should guide us in protecting the moral environment of society. Just as humanity accepts a collective responsibility to preserve the physical environment, religious leaders have an even greater responsibility to preserve our moral environment - truth, compassion, dignity, justice, restraint, tolerance, family, neighbourliness and respect for human life.
These values are not exclusively Muslim or Christian. People who profess neither Christianity nor Islam recognise honesty, human dignity, justice, compassion and peaceful coexistence as foundations of civilisation.
That universality should tell us something profound: religion is at its greatest when it elevates humanity rather than when it merely enlarges a political constituency. This is therefore my respectful appeal to our Imams, ulama, pastors, priests and other custodians of faith.
Participate in the moral development of politics. Educate citizens. Challenge bad government. Condemn corruption. Demand justice. Defend the poor. Counsel those in authority. Encourage competent people to seek office. Teach followers that selling votes is morally destructive. Pray for leaders and, when necessary, courageously correct them. But we must think very carefully before transforming the pulpit itself into a political platform.
A religious leader who endorses Candidate A risks making the followers of Candidate B uncomfortable in his congregation. A scholar who becomes Candidate A creates an even more complicated situation: criticism of the candidate may be mistaken for disrespect toward the scholar, while loyalty to the scholar may be converted into an electoral obligation. That is unhealthy both for religion and democracy.
This concern has also appeared in Nigerian public debate: even commentators who recognise the constitutional right of clerics to participate politically have argued that the special respect commanded by religious leaders creates a compelling case for neutrality and statesmanship. Our scholars should be fathers to competing politicians, not competitors against their spiritual children.
Let the politician fear that tomorrow the Sheikh may publicly tell him he has acted unjustly. Let the governor know that the Imam cannot be bought with appointment. Let the opposition know that the scholar will condemn its falsehood just as firmly as government’s wrongdoing. That independence is power.
I therefore address Professor Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami with respect. Lest Professor Pantami wonders, perhaps with some amusement, why this elitist counsel appears to have chosen his name from among the many who aspire to political leadership in Gombe, the explanation is itself a compliment carrying a burden. He is no longer perceived merely as Isa Ali Pantami, the private citizen or former Minister; through decades of preaching, teaching and public engagement, he has become, rightly or wrongly, one of the most visible contemporary faces of Sunni Islamic scholarship in Nigeria, particularly to a
generation of Muslims who have listened to and learned from him. History has a curious way of attaching scholars to the intellectual traditions they publicly represent: centuries later, we still speak of Arab and Muslim scholars such as Ibn Khaldun not principally because of whatever ordinary ambitions surrounded their private lives, but because scholarship became their enduring identity. Professor Pantami may therefore forgive some of us for expecting more restraint from him than we might demand from an ordinary politician. One cannot enjoy the extraordinary moral capital of the scholar and, at the same time, reasonably expect society to treat one’s entry into partisan politics as though it were merely the career progression of another politician. The greater the religious stature society confers upon a person, the greater, rather inconveniently, becomes society’s legitimate concern about how that stature is deployed. There are victories greater than winning an election. There are positions higher than occupying Government House. There are constituencies larger than a state. A man who has acquired considerable knowledge, international exposure, national public-service experience and a large following has several avenues through which he can influence generations without necessarily becoming governor.
He can produce leaders.
He can mentor governments.
He can build institutions.
He can reconcile political adversaries.
He can speak for Gombe before every government irrespective of which party controls it.
And, most importantly, he can remain a religious voice to whom the winner and loser of an election can both comfortably turn.

Gombe needs good governors. But Gombe also needs respected elders and scholars who are bigger than its governorship contests.
This appeal does not question anyone’s qualification, patriotism or constitutional liberty. Nor should anybody weaponize religion against Professor Pantami or any other aspirant. It is instead an invitation to contemplate the price society may unknowingly pay when its most influential spiritual authorities become actors in the fierce competition for political power.
We must also remember that posterity will sit in judgment over the choices we make today, long after we have departed this world. History will be less concerned with the passions, ambitions and political calculations of our moment than with whether our actions ultimately served the common good of the weal and strengthened or diminished the society entrusted to us. As elites and custodians of faith, culture and communal values, ours is therefore a responsibility that transcends personalities, elections and generations. We are expected to leave behind a moral compass by which society can distinguish power from service, ambition from sacrifice, and what is merely permissible from what is ultimately beneficial. Our duty is not only to preserve religious doctrine and cultural heritage, but also to protect and sanctify the moral foundations of society itself - to nurture justice, restraint, tolerance, dignity and peaceful coexistence. The true measure of our stewardship will consequently not be the political victories achieved in our lifetime, but whether generations yet unborn inherit from us a society whose moral institutions remain strong enough to guide them when we are no longer here to speak.
Those of us who speak as elites or elders must think beyond the next election. The real question is not who governs Gombe from 2027. The greater question is what kind of Gombe we shall hand over to our children twenty or thirty years from now.
Will they inherit mosques divided according to political camps?
Will scholars be classified according to parties?
Will sermons be interpreted through electoral affiliations?
Will criticism of a politician who happens to be a scholar be regarded as hostility towards religion?

Or shall they inherit a society where the mosque remains a sanctuary for the supporter of every lawful political tendency; where the scholar can rebuke the government without being called opposition; and where he can correct the opposition without being called an agent of government? That is the Gombe I would rather preserve. Political power is temporary. Religious institutions outlive administrations. Governments come and go; faith accompanies communities across generations. Therefore, to Professor Pantami and every distinguished religious leader contemplating partisan political leadership, I offer not condemnation but an elitist’s appeal: Consider not merely whether you can win political power, but whether the moral authority you already possess is more valuable to society than the political authority you seek.
And to our people, let us never turn this question into hostility. Let us debate it with knowledge, dignity and brotherhood. For ultimately, the responsibility of the believer is not merely to prepare humanity for the Hereafter. It is also to make our temporary residence on earth more just, peaceful, dignified and humane. Just as we preserve the earth because it has been entrusted to mankind, we must preserve the sanctity of faith because it too is a trust. Politics needs the guidance of religion. But religion does not always need the possession of political power to provide that guidance. Sometimes its greatest power lies precisely in remaining sufficiently above the contest to speak truth to whoever wins it.


Signed:
Umar Usman Kukandaka, mni
K/Kumbia Quarters, Gombe
Gombe State

The President of the Alumni Association of the National Institute (AANI), Ambassador Emmanuel Obi Okafor, mni, on behalf of the National Executive Committee and the entire AANI family, warmly celebrates Engr. Jani Ibrahim, FNSE, FAEng, FCIoD, OON, mni (SEC 24, 2002), on the joyous occasion of his birthday today, Saturday, 8th August, 2026.

Engr. Ibrahim's leadership as President of AANI from 2009 to 2012, and earlier as Secretary-General from 1999 to 2003, reflect a man whose commitment to the ideals and advancement of the National Institute alumni community has been consistent, selfless, and transformative. His is a life built on engineering excellence, entrepreneurial courage, and a deep passion for Nigeria's industrial and economic development.

As the 23rd National President of the Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA) and Chairman of the Organised Private Sector of Nigeria (OPSN), he drives policy for over 100 chambers of commerce across Nigeria, championing AfCFTA integration, private sector development, and the advancement of Small and Medium Enterprises across Africa. The Lubcon Group, which he founded as the first indigenous lubricant blending company in Nigeria to achieve ISO 9001 certification, with operations extending to Ghana and Ethiopia, stands as a towering testament to his entrepreneurial vision and industrial leadership.

He is an alumnus of Harvard Business School and a Fellow of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (FNSE), Fellow of the Nigerian Academy of Engineering (FAEng), and Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Directors (FCIoD), and has been honoured with the national award of Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON) in recognition of his outstanding contributions to Nigeria's economic development.

AANI celebrates Engr. Jani Ibrahim on this auspicious occasion of his birthday and prays that Almighty God grants him continued wisdom, good health, strength, and many more years of service and fulfilment. May his contributions to the Association and our nation continue to be fruitful.

Engr. Ifeanyi Jude Ngama, mni
National Publicity Secretary,
AANI,
Saturday, 8th August, 2026.

The Alumni Association of the National Institute (AANI) stands united in celebration as the National Executive Committee and the entire AANI family honour the remarkable achievements of our esteemed Secretary-General, Dr. Umar Khalifa Mohammed, FCAI, MNIM, mni (SEC 44, 2022), on the joyous occasion of his birthday today, Saturday, 4th July, 2026.

Dr. Mohammed's leadership as Secretary-General has been defined by steadiness, intellectual depth, and a strong commitment to the growth and institutional strengthening of AANI. His career has spanned telecommunications, energy, education, and public administration, including his service as Head of Service Delivery and Project Management at the Kano Electricity Distribution Company (KEDCO), Managing Director and CEO of Gano Group of Companies, and Director of Central Services and Senior Special Assistant to the Pro-Chancellor at Baze University, Abuja. He currently serves as a member of the Governing Board of the National Insurance Commission (NAICOM), contributing his expertise to Nigeria's insurance regulatory framework at the highest level.

He holds a PhD in International Studies from the Nigerian Defence Academy, a Master's degree in International Management and a BSc in Information Technology, both from the University of the West of England, Bristol, and a Higher National Diploma in Computing from Plymouth University, UK. Dr. Mohammed brings rare global academic breadth to his institutional responsibilities. He has also attended the Management Essentials programme at Harvard Business School, Boston, and earned a Certificate in Good Governance from the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, Singapore.

A Fellow of the Institute of Corporate Administration (FCAI), Member of the Nigerian Institute of Management (MNIM), and recipient of the Fellowship Award for Distinguished and Sterling Professional Contribution to Educational Administration from ICAD in 2021, his credentials speak to a professional of extraordinary depth, versatility, and commitment.

The AANI family celebrates one of the strong pillars of our Association and a devoted servant of the National Institute's enduring ideals of strategic vision and national development. Happy Birthday, Dr. Umar Khalifa Mohammed, FCAI, MNIM, mni! May your wisdom continue to guide, your service continue to inspire, and your legacy continue to grow for many years to come.

Warm regards,

Engr. Ifeanyi Jude Ngama, mni

National Publicity Secretary, AANI

Saturday, 4th July, 2026

Towards a Better Society.

Abuja, Nigeria

In a significant demonstration of the enduring bond between the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), Kuru, and its alumni body, the Director-General of NIPSS, Prof. Ayo Omotayo, paid an official visit to the National Executive Committee (EXCO) of the Alumni Association of the National Institute (AANI) at the AANI National Secretariat, Maitama, Abuja, on Thursday, 25 June 2026.

The Director-General was warmly received by the AANI National Executive Committee, led by the National President, Ambassador Emmanuel Obi Okafor, mni, alongside other principal officers and members of the Association's leadership.

The visit provided a valuable platform for fruitful and constructive discussions on matters of mutual interest and strategic national importance. Deliberations centred on strengthening institutional collaboration, fostering greater synergy between NIPSS and AANI, and exploring avenues through which both bodies can continue to uphold, protect and enhance the prestige, legacy and national relevance of the National Institute.

During the engagement, the Director-General also briefed the National Executive Committee on the recent unfortunate security breach at the NIPSS facility in Kuru, during which three security personnel co of the Nigerian Armed Forces and a police officer—tragically lost their lives. He appreciated the concern and support of the alumni body while reaffirming the Institute's commitment to ensuring the security of lives and property within the institution.

Both parties reaffirmed their shared commitment to promoting policy excellence, leadership development, national integration and sustainable nation-building initiatives, in line with the founding vision and statutory mandate of NIPSS.

Notably, the Director-General has paid an official visit to the AANI National Executive Committee at the National Secretariat, reflecting the growing spirit of partnership, mutual respect and institutional cooperation between the Institute and its alumni body.

Speaking on the significance of the visit, the AANI National President, Ambassador Emmanuel Obi Okafor, mni, described the engagement as a defining moment in the relationship between NIPSS and AANI, expressing confidence that the renewed partnership would open new frontiers for policy engagement, capacity building and national service.

The visit also serves as a clarion call to all members of AANI to remain steadfast in their support for initiatives that strengthen the Association and contribute meaningfully to national development. Members are encouraged to continue fostering unity, collaboration and professional excellence in pursuit of a better society.

The National Executive Committee of AANI expresses its profound appreciation to the Director-General of NIPSS for the visit and looks forward to deeper engagement and sustained collaboration in advancing the ideals, objectives and enduring legacy of the National Institute.

Signed:

Engr. Ifeanyi Jude Ngama, mni

National Publicity Secretary

Alumni Association of the National Institute (AANI)

On behalf of the Executive Committee and the entire membership of the Alumni Association of the National Institute (AANI), I am delighted to extend our warmest congratulations and heartfelt felicitations to our esteemed President, His Excellency Ambassador Emmanuel Obi Okafor, mni, on the joyous occasion of his birthday.

Today, we celebrate an exceptional leader, distinguished diplomat, accomplished statesman, and committed patriot whose exemplary leadership, vision, wisdom, humility, and dedication have continued to inspire the AANI family and contribute immensely to national development. Your leadership as President has been marked by remarkable accomplishments, strategic foresight, inclusiveness, innovation, and a steadfast commitment to advancing the noble ideals and objectives of our great Association.

Under your dynamic leadership, AANI has continued to strengthen its role as a foremost platform for promoting good governance, national unity, strategic thinking, public policy engagement, and the pursuit of a better society. Your ability to unite diverse interests, foster collaboration, build consensus, and inspire collective action has further enhanced the prestige, relevance, and influence of the Association within the national landscape.

Beyond your distinguished service to AANI, your illustrious career in diplomacy and public service stands as a shining example of integrity, excellence, professionalism, patriotism, and selfless dedication to the service of our nation. Your humility, accessibility, generosity of spirit, and genuine concern for the welfare of members have endeared you to many and earned you widespread admiration, respect, and affection.

As you celebrate this special milestone, we join your family, friends, associates, and well-wishers across the country and beyond in thanking Almighty God for His abundant grace, faithfulness, and blessings upon your life. We pray that He grants you many more years in excellent health, divine protection, greater wisdom, renewed strength, enduring peace, abundant joy, and lasting fulfilment. May He continue to guide your path, enlarge your sphere of influence, and bless the work of your hands with even greater success, impact, and distinction.

Your Excellency, we are proud of your leadership, grateful for your service, and inspired by your example. May this birthday usher in a new season of greater accomplishments, happiness, prosperity, and God’s abundant favour.

Happy Birthday, Your Excellency, and many happy returns.

Olufunke Amos, mni
Vice President
For and on behalf of the Executive Committee and the entire AANI Family
24 June 2026

On behalf of the Executive Committee and the entire membership of the Alumni Association of the National Institute (AANI), I am delighted to extend our warmest congratulations and heartfelt felicitations to our esteemed President, His Excellency Ambassador Emmanuel Obi Okafor, mni, on the joyous occasion of his birthday.

Today, we celebrate an exceptional leader, distinguished diplomat, accomplished statesman, and committed patriot whose exemplary leadership, vision, wisdom, humility, and dedication have continued to inspire the AANI family and contribute immensely to national development. Your leadership as President has been marked by remarkable accomplishments, strategic foresight, inclusiveness, innovation, and a steadfast commitment to advancing the noble ideals and objectives of our great Association.

Under your dynamic leadership, AANI has continued to strengthen its role as a foremost platform for promoting good governance, national unity, strategic thinking, public policy engagement, and the pursuit of a better society. Your ability to unite diverse interests, foster collaboration, build consensus, and inspire collective action has further enhanced the prestige, relevance, and influence of the Association within the national landscape.

Beyond your distinguished service to AANI, your illustrious career in diplomacy and public service stands as a shining example of integrity, excellence, professionalism, patriotism, and selfless dedication to the service of our nation. Your humility, accessibility, generosity of spirit, and genuine concern for the welfare of members have endeared you to many and earned you widespread admiration, respect, and affection.

As you celebrate this special milestone, we join your family, friends, associates, and well-wishers across the country and beyond in thanking Almighty God for His abundant grace, faithfulness, and blessings upon your life. We pray that He grants you many more years in excellent health, divine protection, greater wisdom, renewed strength, enduring peace, abundant joy, and lasting fulfilment. May He continue to guide your path, enlarge your sphere of influence, and bless the work of your hands with even greater success, impact, and distinction.

Your Excellency, we are proud of your leadership, grateful for your service, and inspired by your example. May this birthday usher in a new season of greater accomplishments, happiness, prosperity, and God’s abundant favour.

Happy Birthday, Your Excellency, and many happy returns.

Olufunke Amos, mni
Vice President
For and on behalf of the Executive Committee and the entire AANI Family
24 June 2026

The President of the Alumni Association of the National Institute (AANI), Ambassador Emmanuel Obi Okafor, mni, on behalf of the National Executive Committee and the entire AANI family, receives with deep shock and profound sorrow the news of the armed attack on the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), Kuru, in the early hours of Tuesday, 16th June, 2026.

AANI notes with heavy hearts that two gallant soldiers and a police officer paid the ultimate price in the line of duty, giving their lives to protect the NIPSS community. Their bravery and sacrifice shall not be forgotten. We extend our deepest condolences to their families, the Nigerian Army, and the Nigeria Police Force. May their souls rest in eternal peace.

AANI salutes the bravery and swift response of all security personnel whose courageous intervention prevented a far graver tragedy. We are grateful to God and to every officer who stood in the gap.

As an Association rooted in the National Institute, AANI regards an attack on NIPSS as an attack on a national treasure. NIPSS is the cradle of Nigeria's strategic leadership and the incubator of the nation's finest policy minds. Any threat to its sanctity must be treated with the utmost seriousness by all agencies of the Nigerian State.

AANI calls on the Federal Government, Pleateau State Government, and all relevant security agencies to urgently and thoroughly investigate this attack, identify and bring the perpetrators to justice, and immediately deploy a robust and permanent security architecture around the NIPSS campus to guarantee the safety of participants, staff, and the entire Institute community.

AANI reaffirms its absolute commitment to the safety, sanctity, and continued flourishing of the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies, and prays that Almighty God grants comfort to the bereaved families, healing to the wounded, and lasting peace to the NIPSS community and Nigeria as a whole.



Signed:

Engr. Ifeanyi Jude Ngama, mni

National Publicity Secretary, AANI

Tuesday, 16th June, 2026

Market2Home Services Limited has officially commenced operations in Abuja, introducing a technology-driven marketplace aimed at transforming how Nigerians purchase groceries, foodstuffs and household essentials.

The company, which began operations on June 1st, 2026, said it is focused on building a more organized, hygienic and trustworthy market system through technology, logistics and standardized commerce practices.

Speaking on the launch, the management of Market2Home stated that the platform was created to solve several long-standing challenges associated with traditional market shopping, including poor hygiene, inconsistent measurements, stressful shopping experiences and unreliable product quality.

According to the company, Market2Home is not merely an online grocery platform, but a structured digital marketplace designed to bring convenience, transparency and professionalism into everyday food commerce.

The company explained that one of its major innovations is the introduction of standardized measurements for products commonly sold using cups, mudu and baskets. These products are now verified using proper weight measurements such as grams and kilograms to improve fairness and customer confidence.

Market2Home also noted that hygiene and cleanliness remain central to its operational philosophy under its campaign known as:

“The Clean Market Revolution.”

Management further disclosed that the platform currently offers groceries, foodstuffs and household essentials, while plans are already underway to expand into a broader digital marketplace structure in the future.

Industry observers believe the company’s strong focus on quality assurance, logistics coordination and customer trust positions it as one of the emerging brands within Nigeria’s growing digital commerce sector.

Market2Home Services Limited

📍 Utako, Abuja
📞 07060530000
🌐 www.market2home.ng[right][/right]

Abuja, June 2nd, 2026.


The President of the Alumni Association of the National Institute, Ambassador Emmanuel Obi Okafor, mni, on behalf of the National Executive Committee and the entire AANI family, warmly congratulates Queensley Sofuratu Seghosime, FCA, mni (SEC 34, 2012), on her investiture today, Tuesday, 2nd June, 2026, as the 62nd President of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN).

Queensley Sofuratu Seghosime is a seasoned professional with over 40 years of experience across the private and public sectors, with a distinguished legacy in Nigerian tax administration. As Partner and Chief Executive Officer of Quebaan Professional Services, Abuja, she has consistently demonstrated outstanding leadership, innovation, and commitment to professional excellence.

Her emergence as President is a well-deserved recognition of an exemplary administrator and thoroughbred professional. Prior to her election in March 2026, she served meritoriously as Vice President of ICAN for the 2025/2026 Council Year, contributing immensely to policy direction, professional development, and the continued advancement of the accounting profession in Nigeria.

The AANI family rises with immense pride to salute one of its own on this momentous occasion, and prays that God grants her wisdom, strength, and divine guidance throughout her tenure.


Signed:

Engr. Ifeanyi Jude Ngama, mni

National Publicity Secretary, AANI

Towards a Better Society.

The President of the Alumni Association of the National Institute (AANI), Ambassador Emmanuel Obi Okafor, mni, on behalf of the National Executive Committee and the entire AANI family, warmly congratulates the Secretary, AANI Imo State Chapter, Prof. Charles Obioma Omeire, mni (SEC 31, 2009), on his well-deserved elevation to the rank of Professor.

As University Orator and a prolific author at Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Prof. Omeire has published extensively in national and international journals and authored several books spanning rural development, indigenous knowledge systems, and social sciences. His 2010 landmark delivery of the 20th Public Lecture at FUTO, where he became the first serving Registrar in Nigeria to present such a lecture, was itself a signal of a man whose intellectual contributions transcended administrative boundaries.

A PhD holder from Imo State University, Owerri, he held several pioneering administrative roles across Nigerian universities. He is a Fellow of the Nigerian Institute of Management and recipient of numerous awards including the Ambassador of Excellence honour from Michael Okpara University, Umudike.

The AANI family salutes a personification of integrity, hard work, and humility, and prays that God grants him continued strength, good health, and even greater accomplishments in his new rank.

Warm regards,
Engr. Ifeanyi Jude Ngama, mni
National Publicity Secretary, AANI
Saturday, 16th May, 2026

Towards a Better Society.

Abuja, Nigeria,

The Alumni Association of the National Institute is pleased to announce and celebrate the birthday of its National Publicity Secretary, Engr. Ifeanyi Jude Ngama, mni (SEC 44, 2022), today, Friday, 15th May, 2026.

The President of the Association, Ambassador Emmanuel Obi Okafor, mni, on behalf of the National Executive Committee and the entire AANI family, extends heartfelt congratulations to Engr. Ngama on this joyous occasion, recognising in him a man whose professional distinction, institutional dedication, and quiet but impactful service to the Association continue to set a commendable standard of excellence.

As National Publicity Secretary of AANI, Engr. Ngama has brought professionalism, creativity, and strategic communications to the Association's public engagements, consistently upholding the image and ideals of AANI with distinction and dedication.

A distinguished engineer, ICT innovator, and entrepreneur of considerable repute, he is Founder and Managing Director of EXWHYZEE Smart Solutions Ltd, through which he has designed and implemented transformative ICT solutions for government establishments and private enterprises across Nigeria, including Academic Suites for educational institution management and retail business solutions that have redefined operational efficiency in the Nigerian market.

A proud alumnus of the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, National University of Singapore, and a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Local Government and Public Administration of Nigeria, he is equally a Cisco Certified Voice Professional (CCVP), Microsoft Certified IT Professional (MCITP), and Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH). He holds an MBA in Project Management and a B.Eng. in Mechanical Engineering from the Federal University of Technology Owerri (FUTO), and is a registered member of the Council for Registered Engineers of Nigeria (COREN) and the Nigerian Society of Engineers, among other distinguished professional bodies.

On this momentous occasion, the entire AANI family celebrates a man whose selfless commitment to service have made an enduring impression on our Association and on Nigeria's development landscape. We pray that this new year of his life brings with it abundant blessings, sound health, and accomplishments that continue to reflect the extraordinary quality of the man we are privileged to call our colleague and friend.



Signed:

Dr. Mohammed Umar Khalifa

Secretary-General, Alumni Association of the National Institute (AANI)

Friday, 15th May, 2026

Towards a Better Society.

Abuja, Nigeria | May 14, 2026

The Alumni Association of the National Institute has paid glowing tribute to His Royal Majesty, Igwe Alfred Nnaemeka Achebe, CFR, mni (SEC 1, 1979), the revered Obi of Onitsha, as he marks his 85th birthday anniversary, today, Thursday, 14th May, 2026.

In a statement issued by the National Publicity Secretary, Engr. Ifeanyi Jude Ngama, mni, the President of the Association, Ambassador Emmanuel Obi Okafor, mni, on behalf of the National Executive Committee and the entire AANI family, described the monarch as “a towering symbol of wisdom, statesmanship, cultural pride, and transformational leadership.”

The Association noted that Igwe Achebe occupies a unique place in the history of the National Institute, having been a member of the prestigious maiden Senior Executive Course (SEC 1) in 1979; a pioneering set that laid the foundation for strategic leadership development and policy discourse in Nigeria.

The Association further extolled the monarch’s distinguished professional career with Shell Petroleum Development Company and Shell International, London, where he rose to become Senior Corporate Adviser, earning international recognition for his intellect, diplomacy, and strategic insight.

According to the statement, since ascending the throne as the 21st Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Achebe has remained an exemplary custodian of culture and tradition, while championing education, peace, national unity, youth development, and responsible leadership.

“AANI celebrates not only a royal father of global repute, but also a mentor, bridge-builder, patriot, and elder statesman whose influence transcends generations and borders,” the statement added.

The Association described the monarch’s life at 85 as “a remarkable legacy of integrity, excellence, service, and humanity,” noting that his leadership continues to inspire confidence and admiration across Nigeria and beyond.

AANI prayed for Almighty God to grant His Royal Majesty continued good health, peace, wisdom, and many more years of impactful service to humanity.

Signed:
Engr. Ifeanyi Jude Ngama, mni
National Publicity Secretary, AANI

Towards a Better Society.

The Alumni Association of the National Institute joins Nigerians at home and in the diaspora in celebrating the invaluable contributions of Nigerian workers on International Workers’ Day, today, Friday, 1st May, 2026.

The President, Ambassador Emmanuel Obi Okafor, mni, on behalf of the National Executive Committee and the entire membership, extends warm greetings and profound appreciation to all public and private sector workers for their unwavering dedication, resilience, and tireless efforts in nation-building.

“Nigerian workers remain the driving force behind our economic growth, national security, essential services, and socio-economic stability. From factories and farms to classrooms, healthcare facilities, corporate offices, and security outposts, you constitute the true backbone of our dear nation,” Ambassador Okafor stated.

In recognition of the current economic hardships and rising living costs, The association acknowledges the extraordinary sacrifices of Nigerian workers who continue to show up every day with commitment and hope for a better tomorrow. The Association believes that sustainable national development can only be achieved when the welfare and productivity of the workforce are given top priority.

Ambassador Emmanuel Obi Okafor, mni called on the government, the organised private sector, labour unions, and civil society organisations to strengthen collaboration towards ensuring fair wages, improved working conditions, enhanced welfare packages, greater productivity, and the protection of fundamental workers’ rights.

As we celebrate this special day, we pray fr renewed strength, divine protection, safety at all workplaces, and abundant rewards for the labour of all Nigerian workers.

In today’s fast-paced world, convenience is no longer a luxury, it is a necessity. Across major cities globally, digital platforms have transformed how people access essential goods, particularly food and household items. Nigeria, and especially urban centers like Abuja, stands at a critical point where adopting web-based ordering systems for fresh food and household supplies is not just beneficial, but necessary.

The Changing Urban Reality

Abuja continues to grow rapidly, with an increasing population of working professionals, entrepreneurs, and families managing demanding daily schedules. Long working hours, traffic congestion, and limited time have made traditional market visits more stressful than ever.

For many households, what should be a simple weekly activity ( buying food) has become time-consuming, physically demanding, and inefficient. This growing gap between lifestyle demands and traditional systems creates a clear need for innovation.

Bridging the Gap with Technology

Web-based platforms for ordering fresh food and household items provide a seamless solution. By connecting consumers directly with markets and suppliers through digital interfaces, these platforms eliminate unnecessary stress while improving efficiency.

Such systems allow individuals to:

👉Browse available products from their phones or computers

👉Make informed purchasing decisions with transparent pricing

👉Receive goods at their doorstep without disruption to their daily routines

👉This is not just convenience, it is a fundamental upgrade to how urban living functions.

Benefits to Citizens

1. Time Efficiency

Digital ordering platforms save valuable hours that would otherwise be spent navigating markets, dealing with traffic, and negotiating prices.

2. Improved Quality and Hygiene

Structured systems ensure that food items are selected, sorted, and handled with better quality control compared to the traditional open-market experience.

3. Price Transparency

Consumers gain clearer visibility into pricing, reducing exploitation and inconsistency often experienced in physical markets.

4. Enhanced Lifestyle

Families can focus more on work, rest, and personal well-being rather than the stress of sourcing daily essentials.

Benefits to the Nation

1. Economic Structuring and Formalization*

Digital platforms help organize the largely informal food market sector, bringing structure, data, and accountability into the system.

2. Job Creation

From logistics and technology to supply chain management, these platforms create new employment opportunities for thousands of Nigerians.

3. Reduction in Food Waste

With better demand tracking and supply coordination, food wastage can be significantly reduced — a major issue in Nigeria’s agricultural value chain.

4. Support for Local Producers

Farmers and market vendors gain wider access to consumers, improving their income and reducing dependence on middlemen.

5. Digital Economy Growth

Encouraging online commerce for essential goods strengthens Nigeria’s digital economy and aligns the country with global trends.

A Necessary Shift

The future of food supply in Nigeria cannot remain tied solely to traditional systems. While markets will always play a vital role, integrating them into digital platforms is the logical next step.

This shift is not about replacing markets, it is about enhancing them. It is about creating a system where technology supports accessibility, efficiency, and trust.

Conclusion

Nigeria has the population, the demand, and the technological potential to build a modern, efficient system for food and household supply. What is required now is the willingness to embrace change and invest in solutions that improve everyday life.

As cities like Abuja continue to expand, the question is no longer whether digital food supply platforms are needed, but how quickly they can be adopted to meet the growing demands of the people.

The Alumni Association of the National Institute has congratulated the Director-General of the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies , Professor Ayo Omotayo, on his conferment of the Honorary Fellowship of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations.

In a letter dated April 24, 2026, and signed by its President, Ambassador Emmanuel Obi Okafor, the association described the honour as well-deserved and a recognition of Prof. Omotayo’s outstanding contributions to strategic leadership, public policy, and effective communication in national development.

The fellowship, conferred during the NIPR Week 2026 in Kaduna, was noted by AANI as a clear affirmation of the NIPSS Director-General’s enduring impact on the practice of public relati[color=#000099][/color]ons and national discourse.

AANI further commended Prof. Omotayo’s leadership at NIPSS, stating that his stewardship has strengthened the institute’s role as Nigeria’s foremost policy think tank while promoting professionalism, integrity, and excellence in public service.

The association expressed pride in its relationship with the NIPSS DG and conveyed confidence that the recognition would further inspire his commitment to national service and institution-building.

AANI also extended its best wishes for greater accomplishments in the years ahead, reaffirming its support for initiatives that advance national development.

Abuja, April 20, 2026

The Alumni Association of the National Institute (AANI) has called for urgent and comprehensive reforms to Nigeria’s security architecture, with a strong push for the establishment of State Police, while emphasizing that justice, accountability, and societal orientation remain critical to achieving lasting peace.

This was the thrust of discussions at AANI’s 46th Annual General Meeting (AGM) and National Colloquium, held at the Muhammadu Buhari Conference Centre, Abuja, under the theme: “State Police and Community Policing: Challenges, Options and Opportunities.”

The Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS), Mr. Oluwatosin Adeola Ajayi, who was the Special Guest of Honour, underscored that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, is fully committed to tackling the security challenges bedeviling the nation. The DG DSS emphasized that beyond structural reforms, Nigeria must confront deeper issues of trust gaps and societal orientation.

He charged community rulers, religious leaders, and grassroots mobilizers to rise to their responsibilities, noting that security is not only institutional but a shared societal duty. He further reiterated the centrality of justice, stating that “where there is justice, peace comes naturally,” underscoring fairness and equity as the foundation of national stability.

The DG noted that State Policing is not only a legitimate exercise of state authority to tackle immediate threats, but also one of the most effective mechanisms for coordinating and harmonising Nigeria’s numerous quasi-law enforcement outfits currently operating across states.

The high-level event, chaired by HE Professor Tijjani Bande, GCON, former Permanent Representative of Nigeria to the United Nations and Director General of the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), attracted key stakeholders including the Director General of NIPSS, Professor Ayo Omotayo, representatives of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Head of Service of the Federation, Chief of Defence Staff, Inspector General of Police, Nigerian Navy, and other Service Chiefs, as well as delegations from Zamfara and Sokoto State Governments, alongside senior security and intelligence officials.

In his remarks, AANI President, Ambassador Emmanuel Obi Okafor, mni, described Nigeria’s current security situation as a defining moment, stressing that the country’s centralised policing system is overstretched and at variance with federalism. He noted that Nigeria continues to grapple with terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, farmers-herders violence, separatist agitations, and oil theft, compounded by poverty, youth unemployment, and weak governance.

Delivering the keynote address, Professor Femi Mimiko highlighted the limitations of Nigeria’s single-layer policing structure, noting its inconsistency with federal principles. He advocated a decentralised system that enhances responsiveness and accountability, while cautioning that fears of misuse, ethnic bias, and fragmentation must be addressed through clear constitutional safeguards.

Deliberations revealed that Nigeria remains significantly under-policed, with a current strength of 371,800 officers and a police-to-population ratio of about 1:740, far below the United Nations standard of 1:450. Participants identified intelligence gaps, weak community trust, corruption, inadequate manpower, and over-centralisation as key drivers of insecurity. The deployment of the military for policing duties in almost all states was also flagged as unsustainable.

The Chairman of the occasion advised that the colloquium critically examine issues around the State Policing option to develop a workable framework for implementation. Delegates agreed that the concept of State Police is not new, and that past failures should not foreclose adoption today. Rather, flaws must be examined and solutions proffered.

The AGM endorsed an intelligence-driven Hybrid Policing Model that integrates State Police with existing community policing structures. Key recommendations included:

Constitutional Amendment:

I. Urgent amendment of Sections 214 and 215 of the 1999

ii. Constitution to move policing from the Exclusive Legislative List to the Concurrent List.

iii.Clear Jurisdiction: Delineation of functional boundaries between federal and state police, including thresholds on weapons and personnel, and defined intervention protocols.

iv. Training & Coordination: Training for State Police to be coordinated by the Nigeria Police Force, with formal structures for inter-state and inter-agency collaboration.

v. Funding & Accountability: Appropriately defined funding mechanisms and stronger accountability frameworks to prevent abuse.

vi. Whole-of-Society Approach: Recognition that kinetic means alone cannot solve insecurity. Justice, value reorientation, leadership, and community engagement must complement security operations.

The meeting called on the National Assembly to expedite constitutional amendments to enable the policing reforms and urged all levels of government to ensure justice, stating that peace will not prevail without fairness.

AANI reaffirmed its commitment to providing strategic, evidence-based policy solutions towards building a safer, more secure, and united Nigeria, noting that State Police, properly regulated, offers opportunities for improved responsiveness, better intelligence, employment generation, and restored public trust.

The Alumni Association of the National Institute has renewed calls for a far-reaching overhaul of Nigeria’s policing system, advocating a decentralised, intelligence-led and community-based approach to tackle the nation’s persistent security challenges.

This position emerged as the key outcome of The Alumni Association of the National Institute 46th Annual General Meeting and National Colloquium held at the Muhammadu Buhari Conference Centre, Abuja.

The event, themed: “State Police and Community Policing: Challenges, Options and Opportunities,” attracted a wide range of stakeholders from across the country.

Participants included senior security and intelligence officials, representatives of Zamfara and Sokoto State governments, and key federal institutions.

The Secretary to the Government of the Federation was represented by Professor Babatunde Bolaji.Also, the Inspector-General of Police was represented by Assistant Inspector-General Aisha Abubakar; the Chief of Army Staff represented by Colonel Jubril; the Chief of Naval Staff by Navy Captain Hassan Yusuf; and the intelligence community by Dr. Bakeji, among others.

In his opening remarks, association'SPresident, Ambassador Emmanuel Obi Okafor, mni, said Nigeria’s prolonged security challenges including banditry, terrorism, kidnapping and organised crime have exposed the weaknesses of the country’s centralised policing structure.
The president stressed the urgent need for practical and decisive reforms.

Delivering the keynote address, Professor Femi Mimiko, mni, described Nigeria’s single layer policing system as overstretched and incompatible with federal principles. He argued that an effective security framework must be multi-layered and responsive to local realities.

According to him, intelligence gaps, manpower shortages and over centralisation have significantly weakened policing effectiveness, making comprehensive reform inevitable.
Prof Mimiko mni added that a properly structured state policing system, supported by strong institutional safeguards, would enhance responsiveness, accountability and public confidence.

Also speaking, the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs. Didi Esther Walson-Jack, appreciated association's for convening the forum and commended its leadership for sustaining a platform for strategic national dialogue.

Represented by the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Innovation, Science and Technology, Dr. Mukhtar Mohammed, MFR, mni, she reaffirmed the critical role of security in national development and pledged support for the implementation of the meeting’s outcomes.

“I am confident that the robust deliberations at this colloquium will generate practical insights and actionable recommendations to enrich ongoing conversations and guide informed decision-making,” she said.

Discussing the keynote paper, retired Deputy Inspector-General of Police, Adeleye Oyebade, mni, proposed a hybrid policing model that integrates state and community policing, while retaining the Nigeria Police Force as the central coordinating authority.

The retired police chief noted that such a framework would ensure uniform standards and improve rapid response to security threats at the grassroots.

While discussing keynote paper also, Brigadier General Abdulrahman Idris, mni, emphasised the need for a holistic approach to security, noting that effective policing goes beyond enforcement.

He highlighted the importance of public trust, community collaboration, and addressing socio-economic issues such as unemployment and social exclusion.

Deliberations at the colloquium identified key concerns, including structural and institutional deficiencies in the policing system, the importance of community trust and intelligence gathering, and the need to integrate legal, operational and socio-economic strategies in reform efforts.

The association reaffirmed its role as a policy think-tank committed to providing evidence-based recommendations to support government initiatives in addressing national security challenges.

The association disclosed that outcomes of the Annual General Meeting and colloquium would be harmonised into a communiqué and strategic policy proposals for relevant authorities.

As insecurity continues to dominate national discourse, AANI cautioned that incremental measures are no longer sufficient, calling instead for bold, comprehensive reforms to secure the nation’s future.

The event also featured goodwill messages from various security agencies, while participants made contributions during interactive sessions.

The Alumni Association of the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies took to the streets of Abuja with a high-impact awareness walk, setting the stage for its 46th Annual General Meeting scheduled for April 18, 2026.

Themed “State Police and Community Policing: Challenges, Options and Opportunities,” the forthcoming Annual General Meeting is expected to generate bold policy directions on Nigeria’s evolving security landscape.

Leading the charge, The National President, Ambassador Emmanuel Okafor, mni, said the association remains a formidable force of intellectuals and professionals committed to national development.

“We are bound by a shared vision to build a better society. The association will continue to provide strategic insights and policy solutions to address national challenges,” he declared.

Raising concerns over Nigeria’s security situation, Okafor stressed that safeguarding the nation is a collective duty.

“Security is everyone’s responsibility. While we commend our security agencies, greater support is critical to strengthening their capacity,” he said.

He also called for enhanced funding and infrastructure for the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), noting that the Institute must be better equipped to meet increasing demand.

“As we interrogate the concept of state police and community policing, our goal is to deliver practical, forward-looking policy recommendations,” he added.

In the same vein, The association's National Publicity Secretary, Engr. Ifeanyi Jude Ngama, mni, said the awareness walk signals a renewed drive to re-position the association at the forefront of national discourse.

“This is beyond conversation. The Annual General Meeting and colloquium will produce actionable solutions to strengthen Nigeria’s security architecture,” he said.

The awareness walk attracted a diverse cross-section of members from across the country, including former presidents of the association, serving and retired military officers, and members of various Senior Executive Courses, including SEC 9/1987.

As momentum develops, all eyes are now on 46th Annual General Meeting, where ideas will meet action in shaping Nigeria’s security future.

By Raphael Atuu, Abuja