It was a memorable Monday evening as the Alumni Association of the National Institute (AANI), organised a Presidential Dinner in honour of the graduating participants of the Senior Executive Course (SEC) 46/2024 of the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), Kuru to celebrate their outstanding achievements.
The dinner serves not only to recognise their outstanding achievements but also as a vital forum for uniting current members, prospective members, and the broader AANI community.
The Special Guest of Honour, Head of Service of the Federation, Mrs Esther Didi Walson-Jack OON mni, in her remarks, congratulated graduating participants of the Senior Executive Course (SEC) 46/2024 as they join the league of eminent Nigerians who have gone ahead to lead, influence, and drive transformational change across various sectors as they carry the distinguished title of member of the National Institute, mni.
Mrs Esther Didi Walson-Jack noted that the National Institute is not merely an academic institution, it is a crucible where character is refined and visionary leadership is born.
"As you stand on the brink of graduation, you carry with you the wisdom acquired from countless lectures, rigorous debates, numerous travels, and shared moments of both triumph and light-hearted mishaps.
"The knowledge, networks, and experiences you have gained here empower you to tackle the most pressing challenges facing our nation. It is now your turn to transform those lessons into impactful actions that resonate far beyond the walls of this great institution." she said
She commended the National Institute and the Alumna Association of the National Institute for their consistent dedication to fostering intellectual intercourse, discourse, and national development.
She noted that the tradition of nurturing thought leadership and strategic thinking through various initiatives is a testament to the wavering commitment to advancing our great nation Nigeria.
Mrs Esther Didi Walson-Jack who is a 2008 proud member of Senior Executive Course 30, at the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies, said she embarked on a challenging yet accelerating journey that not only shaped her career but also refined her perspective on leadership.
The Chief Host, AANI President, Ambassador Emmanuel Obi Okafor mni, charges graduating participants of the Senior Executive Course (SEC) 46/2024 to remain committed to AANI values and to leverage their newfound knowledge and skills to make a meaningful impact.
Professor Okafor thanked the President and Commander-in-Chief for hosting the Presidential Parley where graduating members presented their research findings on 'Digital Economy, Youth Empowerment and Sustainable Job Creation: Issues, Challenges and Prospects'.
He stressed that their intellectual prowess and commitment to evidence-based policy-making are a testimony to the values of excellence, integrity, and selfless service that define the National Institute.
"As an advocacy body, AANI is dedicated to promoting good governance, transparency, and accountability in our nation. We recognize the importance of governance education, capacity-building, and mentoring the next generation of leaders. Tonight, we celebrate not only the achievements of our graduating members but also their potential to drive positive change in their respective places of work." he said
He said the current EXCO is poised to maximize the impact of AANI, and we have embarked on continuous advocacy to engage with stakeholders towards a better society.
"Our recent high-level dialogue on governance education in Africa, hosted in collaboration with the African School of Government, Kigali, Rwanda, was a resounding success", he added
For many years, this distinguished dinner has been used to celebrate the culmination of the rigorous academic and strategic endeavours of SEC participants, following their successful submission of their research findings, recommendations and implementation strategy to the President, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Nigeria at the Presidential Parley.
Dignitaries at the memorable evening were host of distinguished alumni, and prominent figures from various areas of endeavours. The evening also presented an invaluable opportunity to acknowledge the significant contributions of potential members, SEC 46/2024 graduating participants, celebrate their accomplishments and initiate the procedure of welcoming them into the AANI family.