NILDS DG Advocates for Democracy Radio at State-Levels to Enhance Civic Engagement

By: Julian Adetinuyo

The Director General of the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS), Professor Abubakar Sulaiman, has called for enhanced platforms to improve civic awareness of legislative activities in Nigeria.

During a recent tour of NILDS Democracy Radio, Professor Sulaiman emphasized the importance of educating citizens on the workings of both the National and State Assemblies.

Received by the station’s General Manager, Uju Nwanchukwu, the Director General was given a tour of the facilities, including the live broadcast, recording, and podcast studios.

A statement by the Media Adviser to DG NILDS Mohammad Abdulkadri, ANIPR, the Professor Sulaiman, explains that NILDS Democracy Radio aims to bridge the information gap between elected officials and their constituents, fostering a deeper understanding of democratic processes.

In an on-the-spot interview, Professor Sulaiman advocated for each State Assembly to establish democracy-focused radio stations to combat misinformation about legislative activities.

He also addressed misconceptions surrounding Nigeria’s presidential system, emphasizing that effective governance requires patriotic involvement from citizens, rather than a shift to a parliamentary model.

While outlining NILDS’s plans to launch a “Democracy Television Station,” the former Minister of National Planning appealed to Donor Agencies and other partners to rally support for the Institute towards bolstering the powers of the channels of information at her disposal for the advancement of the nation’s democracy.

He affirmed NILDS’s commitment to diversifying its funding sources beyond government allocations to ensure sustainable operations.

Professor Sulaiman also made an unscheduled visit to the Legislative Centre for Security Analysis, located within the same premises as NILDS Democracy Radio.