By Seun Adams
Towards finding sustainable solutions to the energy challenge in Nigeria and other African countries, the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS),
has concluded plans with the University College London (UCL) on a research project on energy democracy and the politics of energy Transition across the continent.
The Project according to a statement signed by Nwajei Kanayo, on Saturday would be funded by the United Kingdom (UK) Research and Innovation (UKRI), ESRC, NERC and Innovate UK as part of the ‘UKRI-GCRF sustainable energy and international development, beyond technology’s call.
The disclosure was made known in Abuja by the Director-General of the institute, Prof. Abubakar Olanrewaju Sulaiman, who noted that the collaboration is part of his vision to expand and deepen its collaboration with reputable international institutions and organizations.
It would be recalled that the DG, who has only, spent about 35 days in office has introduced a number of notable institutional game-changing initiatives, approved the establishment of a Unit on development partners, under the office of the DG, with the aim of strengthening and diversifying NILDS’ collaboration in the area of legislative and democratic strengthening.
Sulaiman, further disclosed that the role of the institute would include providing liaison between project and the National Assembly, offering logistical support for capacity building activities, identifying and obtaining relevant participants in seminars, workshops, enabling access to relevant data (e.g. legal and policy documents, etc.), facilitating access for project research and consultative activities related to legislature, and jointly producing policy briefs with project partners.
He said: “On its part, the project partners would plan and execute seminars and lectures for legislators and NILDS staff, provide analysis of existing related laws to identify gaps, pitfalls and opportunities, offer assistance in the implementation of legal framework over the duration of the project’s funding, identify, plan and execute opportunities for stakeholder-learning trips and jointly produce policy briefs.
“As a government institution with a mandate to support the development of dynamic and effective legislature in Nigeria, NILDS would be involved in the capacity building activities, working to assist the development of a legal framework to enable effective decentralization of the power sector.”
The DG said, NILDS is the technical and capacity development organ of the National Assembly established by an Act of Parliament, and is one of the world’s premier academic and research institutions, explaining that since its establishment in 2011, NILDS has continued to support the sustenance of dynamic and effective Legislature in Nigeria (at Federal, State and Local levels) as well as the ECOWAS sub-region.