The SEC 47 graduation ceremony at NIPSS offered a unified vision of leadership rooted in policy relevance, accountability, and national service. Across all keynote interventions, a common message resonated: Nigeria’s future depends on leaders who act.

Professor Ayo Omotayo, Director General of NIPSS, framed the ceremony as both a celebration and a call to duty. He detailed the Institute’s expanding research footprint, institutional reforms, and the launch of the NIPSS Strategic Plan 2026–2030. According to him, the graduates are ambassadors of an institute committed to innovation, digital transformation, and solutions-driven research that directly informs governance and security architecture.

Vice President Kashim Shettima amplified this call by emphasizing that advanced knowledge imposes moral responsibility. He cautioned against complacency in leadership and governance, noting that nations often fail not from lack of ideas but from lack of execution. The Vice President praised the SEC 47 Blue Economy report for its practicality and assured that its recommendations would receive serious policy attention. He urged graduates to remain nationally minded, collaborative, and courageous in challenging ineffective systems.

Ambassador Obi Okafor added a critical layer by reminding the graduates that joining the MNI alumni network is not merely ceremonial. It is an induction into a community trusted to influence policy, institutions, and national direction. He emphasized that ethical conduct, alumni engagement, and loyalty to national interest are non-negotiable expectations of every MNI.

Collectively, the three leaders presented a shared vision: Nigeria needs thinkers who act, leaders who serve, and institutions that translate ideas into measurable outcomes.

Engr. Ifeanyi Jude Ngama, mni
AANI National Publicity Secretary