Category: Featured

MEMBERSHIP OF THE AFRICAN INSTITUTE

The African Institute, a registered trade mark and the Professional membership Department of the Chartered Institute for Governance and Leadership Studies in Africa (IGLSA), here by invites Qualified Individuals, Professionals in Business and Corporate sectors for its DIRECT MEMBERSHIP scheme as follows:

1.Fellowship (FAI)

2.Full Membership (MAI)

3.Associate Membership (AAI)

4.Graduate Membership

5.Student Membership

6.Corporate Membership

Application Fee: N5000

For details, kindly call or WhatsApp us on 09027666656

A THREE-DAY RETREAT ON CURRENT INTERNATIONAL BEST PRACTICES IN PROCUREMENT

INSTITUTE FOR GOVERNANCE AND LEADERSHIP STUDIES IN AFRICA IN ASSOCIATION WITH VIGILANCE GROUP, DUBAI, UAE PRESENTS A THREE-DAY RETREAT ON CURRENT INTERNATIONAL BEST PRACTICES IN PROCUREMENT.

DATE: DECEMBER 10TH – 12TH, 2019

VENUE: DUBAI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES

VIEW FLIER FOR FURTHER DETAILS OR CALL: LANRE ADEBAYO PhD ON 08033497161

Visit to Gen. Gowon by implementation committee.

L-R: A former Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mr Danladi Kifasi; Director General, Institute for Governance and Leadership Studies in Africa, Dr Lanre Adebayo; a former Head of State, Gen. Yakubu Gowon; and Minister of Communications, Dr Adebayo Shittu, during a visit to Gen. Gowon by the implementation committee on the 1st Yakubu Gowon Annual International Public Lecture on Leadership and Governance, organised by IGLSA in Abuja on Friday.

THE INSTITUTE FOR GOVERNANCE AND LEADERSHIP STUDIES IN AFRICA. SITUATION REPORT AND FOUR – YEAR ACTION PLAN (2019 – 2022)

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THE INSTITUTE FOR GOVERNANCE AND LEADERSHIP STUDIES IN AFRICA SITUATION REPORT AND FOUR – YEAR ACTION PLAN (2019 – 2022)

The Institute for Governance and Leadership Studies in Africa in affiliation with Adeleke University hosts a Curriculum Review Workshop.

The Institute for Governance and Leadership Studies in Africa in affiliation with Adeleke University, Nigeria is organizing a 3-day curriculum review workshop from 29th January to 31 st January 2019, to review the new addition of social science and public administration programs for Post Graduate Diploma and M.Sc degrees, with an objective to enhance the quality of, as well as give empirical relevance to, the programs through peer review by relevant stakeholders.

In attendance at the Curriculum Review Workshop are experienced professionals and experts from Government Agencies and the Private Sector including international agencies in Nigeria.

IGLSA BROCHURE

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IGLSA 2019 BROCHURE

AFRICA JOURNAL FOR GOVERNANCE AND LEADERSHIP. (A QUARTERLY JOURNAL OF THE AFRICA INSTITUTE FOR GOVERNANCE AND LEADERSHIP STUDIES)

Creating Space for Civil Society Through Technology and Open Data

Today is International Day of Democracy, a day meant to inspire reflection and celebration of the principles of democracy worldwide. This year’s theme, “Space for Civil Society,” serves as a reminder that a strong and active civil society is necessary for resilient democracy.

This year’s theme is also a reaction to the fact that civil society faces serious challenges globally. Since the early 2000s, authoritarian regimes have used new methods to limit the ability of civil society to protect the rights of citizens, demand accountability from government and engage in public policy. These limitations extend to the Internet and social media; authoritarian regimes continue to curtail political speech and monitor political dissent online.

But just as autocratic regimes are imposing these limitations, civil society is adopting new technologies and using open government data to create new civic space and work in parallel with the interests of open, inclusive government. NDI is supporting these efforts by assisting civil society groups in the creation of international norms and standards for legislative openness and open election data.

International platforms, such as the Legislative Openness Working Group of the Open Government Partnership (OGP), which NDI co-chairs with the Congress of Chile, have brought together elected officials with civil society groups to develop tools that help advance government accountability. In Georgia, the Inter-Factional Working Group on Legislative Openness has used the OGP framework to develop an action plan in collaboration with civil society to improve the transparency of parliament. On this International Day of Democracy, the Parliament of Georgia is hosting an international conference, as part of the Global Legislative Openness Week, to share its experience with other legislatures throughout the region.

Open election and parliamentary data has also become a rallying point for civil society groups around the world. In Kenya, for example, civil society, the technology community and election officials recently created a joint task force to make open election data a priority ahead of Kenya’s 2017 polls, drawing on NDI’s Open Election Data Initiative.

While open data is creating a path to accountability, it is important to remember that these tools can only be meaningful to the average citizen or to those in government when it informs dialogue and deliberation. That is why civil society groups must also play the role of data interpreter: processing, visualizing and communicating open data so that it can be understood and used to enhance the engagement of citizens, particularly women and youth who are disproportionately impacted by a lack of transparency. Technology can help facilitate data analysis, but it is ultimately up to civil society to utilize open data for democratic development.

With our partners, NDI is helping pioneer the use of international norms, open data and technology to create new space for civil society, and will continue to support the innovative work of citizen groups in this area. But in order to ensure long-term democratic resilience, these tools must help create a precedent so that space for civil society not only exists, but is also occupied effectively and constructively.

Six Critical African Elections to Watch in 2015

Between January 2015 and December 2016, African countries will organize more than 35 presidential and legislative elections, and the outcomes have the potential to spark a sea change for the continent. The first of these polls took place in January with the Zambian presidential election after the unexpected death of President Michael Sata.

The March 28 elections in Nigeria can be seen as a harbinger for electoral events to come over the next year in Africa and for democratic development throughout the region. For the first time since independence in 1960, Nigerian voters peacefully voted to transfer political power from one party to another. Given Nigeria’s checkered electoral history filled with violence, rigging and lack of a viable opposition party since military rule ended in 1999, Nigeria’s recent success story is a positive sign for its democratic consolidation and a potential game-changer for other African elections.

The odds for a successful outcome were stacked against Nigeria. However, these challenges seemed to galvanize Nigerian voters and spurred them to take ownership of a hard won democratic process after decades of military rule. Nigeria beat the odds in the most competitive elections the country has ever seen.

At her Africa Policy Forum on the impact of 2015 elections in Africa, U.S. Congresswoman Karen Bass, D-CA, said, “It’s incumbent upon all of us who care about Africa to celebrate the good news.” The success of the polls in Nigeria gives cause for hope.

The determination of Nigerians to take part in the democratic process and to both participate peacefully and accept the outcome should be commended. If Nigeria is indeed a model for the subregion, I hope that the lessons learned and positive momentum will carry over to other critical elections scheduled this year. The elections in Burundi, Côte d’Ivoire, Burkina Faso, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), the Central African Republic (CAR) and Guinea, among others, will show whether Nigeria is an anomaly, or the beginning of broader democratic progress across the region.

1) Burundi at risk of democratic backslide

In Burundi, after a decade of relative peace following 12 years of armed conflict and ethnic polarization, President Pierre Nkurunziza’s National Council for the Defense of Democracy – Forces for the Defense of Democracy (CNDD-FDD) party recently designated him as its presidential candidate for a third term. The CNDD-FDD argued that a constitutional change to extend term limits to three terms was unnecessary given that the president was indirectly elected by the legislature for his first term. With mounting violence in advance of the polls, Burundi is at risk of democratic backsliding during its legislative and presidential elections scheduled for May 26 and June 26, respectively.

2) Political polarization in Côte d’Ivoire could limit political participation

Political violence in Côte d’Ivoire leading up to presidential polls scheduled for Oct. 25, a run off on Nov. 22 and parliamentary elections in December 2016 is likely to be isolated. But political polarization and scars from post-election violence in 2010 will make national reconciliation a challenge. The country’s three major political parties will likely need to form coalitions to win the majority vote. President Alassane Ouattara is expected to win a second term.

3) In Burkina Faso, a chance to redefine the political landscape

The political landscape in Burkina Faso has already seen dramatic shifts in the last year, well before presidential and legislative polls scheduled for Oct. 11. After the much-publicized ouster of President Blaise Compaoré on Oct. 31, 2014, weeks of demonstrations gave way to a military-approved plan for a civilian-led transitional government in place until the October elections. In October, Burkinabe people will have an opportunity to redefine their political landscape and elect a new leader through what are expected to be highly competitive elections.

4) A slippery slope for the Democratic Republic of the Congo

The DRC has local and provincial polls scheduled for Oct. 25 followed by indirect senatorial elections on Jan. 17, 2016, and legislative and presidential polls on Nov. 27, 2016. Deteriorating security, extreme poverty and the failed 2009 peace deal between the Kabila government and National Congress for the Defense of the People all threaten stability. If President Joseph Kabila decides not to respect his term limits, democratic progress could continue to slide backward and disagreement between ruling and opposition parties over the timing of local elections could lead to boycotts by the opposition. Continued high-level diplomatic attention focused on the DRC in the run up to the elections, like that from President Obama, could help prevent further backsliding.

5) The Central African Republic faces a difficult path forward

Continuous insecurity in the CAR has displaced close to one million people. With a constitutional referendum, presidential and parliamentary elections and runoff presidential and parliamentary elections all scheduled for 2015, the divided country faces deep challenges. Previous elections in the CAR have been riddled with problems. These problems combined with the government’s persistent neglect of the country’s outlying regions, continued insecurity, and poverty have been barriers to improved governance and democratic progress in the CAR. The United Nations is currently running a peacekeeping operation in the CAR previously started by the African Union in the hopes of stabilizing the country.

6) Pinning down a date in Guinea

Guinea has a presidential election scheduled for Oct. 11, 2015, with local polls delayed until early 2016. Existing political tensions between the ruling and opposition parties have escalated mainly due to election scheduling. Election timing is critical in Guinea and continuous delays and changes to the electoral calendar have stoked frustrations. Opposition demonstrations recently resumed accompanied by violence and opposition party spokesperson Aboubacar Sylla was attacked. The lead up to October is expected to be tense; however, there is still time for tensions to abate.

Last month’s elections in Nigeria captured the enthusiasm of voters and showed their determination to claim ownership of their democracy. Election outcomes in 2015 and 2016 have the potential to impact democratic development across Africa now and for decades to come. Voters in these critical elections countries should take note of Nigeria’s example. As Nigerian citizens know, democracy is a hard-fought and hard-won process. However, even if elections themselves are successful, democracy does not begin or end at the polling station. Voting is one part of the democratic process.

Photos That Uncover the Meaning of Democracy

Editor’s Note: The United Nations International Democracy Day (Sept. 15, 2015) is observed every year as a reminder of the universality of democratic values.

To celebrate this year’s Democracy Day, Over 100 thought-provoking images were submitted by photographers from all around the world, but the following five stood out.

Click here to share via Twitter your answer the question: “What does democracy means to you?” Use hashtag #DemocracyIs.

1. Resilience (Tweet this)

The power was cut, but despite the surrounding darkness a national campaign for education and awareness of citizen involvement training session in Mauritania continued with only the light from cell phones and flashlights. Democracy means resilience. Marie-Ève Bilodeau, NDI’s resident director in Tunisia, took this photo while in Nouadhibou, Mauritania.

2. The right to vote (Tweet this)

Women in Nasarawa state, Nigeria, line up to show their permanent voter’s cards, waiting to be accredited to vote in the March 2015 national elections. This photo, which was taken by Ryan Dalton, senior program assistant with NDI’s Central and West Africa team, shows that democracy means the right to vote. In a largely peaceful election, Muhammadu Buhari’s victory over incumbent President Goodluck Jonathan marked the country’s first democratic transition of power from one political party to another.