In line with its primary function as a think-tank for government and public policies’ formulation, the Ibadan School of Government and Public Policy has established a Public Policy Group to provide leadership in terms of determining both the broad areas and specific policy issues that would attract the research attention of the institution in the short, medium and long run.
The 34-member group, a multi-disciplinary core of the School comprises distinguished intellectuals and highly experienced professionals from various academic fields and vocations including public sector, industry, academia, private sector, ICT, security and gender.
Other areas of expertise of the members are communication/media, governance, local government, leadership studies, spirituality/religion, demography, foreign affairs, education and others.
Speaking at the inauguration of the PPG, the Executive Vice Chairman of ISGPP, Dr. Tunji Olaopa, said that the school sought to leverage on the wealth of knowledge, experience and distinct progressive thinking of the resource persons in the pursuit of its strategic objective, which he said, was to get the Nigerian government to work better than it was currently doing for democratic governance and development.
Olaopa expressed hope that from the work of the PPG, the ISGPP would jumpstart critical policy dialogue on various issues of national importance.
He said, “The ISGPP seeks to leverage on the wealth of knowledge, experience and distinct progressive thinking of these resource persons in the pursuit of its strategic objective, which is to get the Nigerian government to work better than it is presently doing for democratic governance and development.
“From the work of the group, the ISGPP hopes to jumpstart critical policy dialogue on various issues of national importance.”
The ISGPP executive vice chairman assured that the PPG would serve as the concretisaton of the evolution of the institution as a think-tank in the mould of the Brookings Institution, America Enterprise Institute, Lee Kwan Yew School of Public Policy, Adam Smith Institute and others.
The PPG is chaired by the Chairman, Centre for Trade and Development Initiative, Prof. Ademola Oyejide, while other members include Prof. John Ayoade, a Professor-Emeritus in the Department of Political Science, University of Ibadan; Prof. Pai Obanya, an erudite and veteran author and publisher, who is also known as the Grand Sage of Education in Africa and Prof. Gabriel Ogunmola, Chancellor, Lead City University.
Others are Prof. Isaac Olawale Albert, Dr. Funke Fayehun, Prof. Mike Adeyeye, Ambassador Olukanni, Prof. Bayo Okunade, Engr. John Ayodele, Prof. Ayo Olukotun, Mr. Eze Onyekpere, Dr. Babatunde Oyedeji and Elder Ayo Ojebode, among others.
The Chairman, ISGPP, Professor Akin Mabogunje, said that the inauguration of the group could not come at a better time, especially given the present situation in the country.
Prof. Mabogunje, who noted that there was clearly a need for government and all stakeholders in the socio-economic development to prioritise on areas requiring urgent attention for policy development and articulation, lamented that ideas and policies were never in short supply in Nigeria but what was lacking were the strategies to ensure that these ideas and policies were not only implementable but carried out within a realistic time frame.
He said, “There is clearly a glaring need for government and all stakeholders in the socio-economic development to prioritise on areas requiring urgent attention for policy development and articulation.
“The rising level of youth unemployment, rural and urban poverty exacerbating the trend to violent and reckless militancy ensure that the immediate goals of policy articulation are already well spelt out
“The strident and immediate nature of the challenges facing the country is not only in the economic sector but also in other areas of national importance thus emphasises that policy development must go beyond mere formulation to paying particular attention to strategies of implementation
“It is almost trite to say that in Nigeria, ideas and policies are not in short supply; what is lacking are the strategies to ensure that these ideas and policies are not only implementable but are implemented within realistic time frame”
Speaking on the mandate of the group, the Chairman PPG, Prof. Oyejide, said the effort was aimed at generating policy-oriented research, analysis and advice on national, regional, continental and global public issues to enable policy makers and the public to make informed and carefully considered decisions about public policy.
