Tinubu noted that the Institute is a show of commitment by the party to enhance the power of Nigerians to freely make electoral choices.

“It gives me pleasure to be part of the ceremony of unveiling this Institute of our great party.

“This Institute manifests our collective desire as Nigeria’s ruling political party to enrich the nation’s politics as well as the nature, character, and the quality of engagement.

“It is also to fundamentally reorder, reshape, and leave a lasting legacy in the relationship between political parties and Nigerian voters.

“The idea of an intellectual resource center of the party is not only timely, but strategic because of the need to change the paradigm of engagement between the APC and the Nigerian electorate”.

The President, represented by the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Abubakar Kyari, said there is certainly an urgent need to build an organic relationship between the Nigerian people, create and sustain an all season APC voter education effort designed to promote inclusiveness, ownership and empowerment.

He said one of the issues he’s passionate about and has had occasion to discuss with the party’s National Chairman is the issue of ideology.

“This is a fundamental matter which must be addressed urgently by the institute, especially to give our party a philosophical direction and foundation.

“As leaders and members of this great Party, it’s our duty to collectively define our identity as a political party”, he added.

Tinubu commended the party’s National Chairman and members of the National Working Committee (NWC) for their sheer commitment and vision which led to the establishment of the Institute.

Earlier, the National Chairman of APC, Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje said the formal unveiling of the Institution is a direct result of the collective efforts of the party’s leadership.

According to Dr. Ganduje, the Institute underscores the party’s commitment to building a strong political party and a shared vision to strengthen Nigeria’s democracy.

Spark News Daily quoted the national chairman as saying, “The Progressive Institute will play the following two major roles for our Party:

“Serve as the official Policy Think Tank of the Party – to advise the Party on the performance of policies and programs of all APC governments, providing the platform for robust discussion between the Party, Nigeria’s Academic Community, the civil society and the media as part of a deliberate effort to promote inclusiveness and ownership.

“Serve as the Intellectual Resource Centre of the APC which shall carry out research-driven empirical training programmes. The purpose is to make our Party more competitive, especially in terms of the quality and policy knowledge of its candidates.

Continuing, he said, “Both functions are to enhance the Party’s ability to fulfill its constitutional mandate of leadership recruitment and setting broad policy agenda for governments elected on its platform through the Party manifesto and ideology.

“The Party will also leverage on the Institute to further enhance its relationship with Nigeria’s non-sector (popularly referred to as the Third Sector).

“The essence of this Event therefore is to achieve following objectives;

1, To formally engage with the International Community, the non-state sector and the Nigerian Mass Media on the APC’s vision for establishing an Intellectual Resource Centre which also doubles as its Think Tank.

2, To present the strategic plan of the Institute to the stakeholders and enlist their support

3, To promote inclusiveness and ownership of The Progressive Institute, especially by the APC stakeholders”.

Present at the ceremony were; Senate President, Sen. Godswill Akpabio, (represented by his deputy), Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Tajudeen Abbas, (represented by House Leader), Imo State Governor, Sen. Hope Uzodinma, Ondo State Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, and Kogi State Deputy Governor, Salifu Joël Oyibo.

Others were;Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Sen. George Akume, Minister of Science and Technology, Chief Uche Nnaji, Minister of State for FCT, Dr. Mariya Mahmoud, Minister of State for Labour, Nkiruka Onyejeocha, Bishop Matthew Kuka, etc.

-Spark news