The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje, announced on Thursday the introduction of a new intellectual wing within the party, named the Progressive Institute. This initiative aims to tackle national issues and propose solutions to the challenges facing the country.
Speaking with members of the Kano Correspondent Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) in his office, Ganduje outlined the objectives of the Progressive Institute. He explained that the institute is designed to analyze pressing national issues and provide actionable recommendations to the government. “We established what we called an intellectual wing for the party, the Progressive Institute. It is to analyze national issues so that our members can bring these issues to the attention of the government and help set the agenda,” Ganduje said.
The APC chairman referenced a past initiative where the party organized a national conference focused on livestock reforms. This conference aimed to address the persistent conflicts between farmers and herders, stemming from changes in agricultural practices and grazing areas. Ganduje highlighted the success of this initiative, which led to the creation of the Ministry of Livestock. The ministry, soon to be inaugurated by the president, is expected to address conflicts, modernize livestock production, and contribute to national development by educating herdsmen.
In response to the growing unemployment rates, especially among youth, Ganduje revealed that the Progressive Institute will also focus on educational reforms. He emphasized the need to modernize the national curriculum and university programs to produce employable graduates, addressing the mismatch between educational outcomes and job market needs.
Looking ahead to the upcoming elections, Ganduje expressed the APC’s determination to regain control in Edo and Anambra states. He noted that the party is preparing vigorously for the Edo state election scheduled for September 21, 2024. “Our campaign is with high spirit, and we are confident that we will recover Edo State, which was previously an APC state but was lost to the PDP due to internal issues,” he asserted.
Ganduje’s remarks underscore the APC’s strategic focus on both national policy development and electoral preparations, aiming to strengthen its position and address key issues facing the country.
