The Nigeria Governors' Forum (NGF) has set up an Academy and Leadership Centre designed to strengthen public-sector leadership, improve policy implementation, and promote effective governance across the 36 states of Nigeria.
The Academy, approved as a flagship directorate within the NGF Secretariat, will offer executive capacity development, applied research, governance advisory services, digital innovation, and peer-learning opportunities for officials in state governments.
According to a concept note prepared by the NGF Secretariat, the initiative will equip governors, cabinet members, permanent secretaries, and other senior public officials with the skills needed to tackle emerging governance and development challenges.
The Director-General of the NGF, Dr Abdullateef Shittu, said: 'The Academy would serve as a centre of excellence for subnational leadership development and governance innovation.'
The Academy will run programmes covering strategic leadership, public-sector ethics, negotiation, adaptive management, and policy implementation. It will also provide sector-specific training in areas such as health, agriculture, public finance, infrastructure, and security.
Additionally, it will establish innovation and foresight laboratories to develop practical governance solutions through research, data analysis, policy briefs, and case studies.
The implementation framework covers 2026 to 2036, with plans to expand its programmes nationwide and establish regional learning hubs.
The NGF stated that the Academy would initially operate within the Forum's existing institutional structures, with plans to become a full-fledged subsidiary in the long term.
The initiative also aims to build partnerships with Nigerian institutions, development organisations, and international governance bodies to strengthen its programmes and sustainability.