DIRECTORATE OF RESEARCH
BACKGROUND
The Directorate of Research is mandated to organize and carry
out, on an interdisciplinary basis, intellectual support for those charged
with making and implementing policy for Nigeria, in-depth research into the
social, economic, political, security, scientific, cultural, and other problems
facing the country, and to formulate and present, in usable form, the available
options for their solution. This, no doubt, is derived from the institute's
mandate, which is “to serve as a high-level center of reflection, research, and
dialogue where academics of intellectual excellence, policy initiators and
executors, and other citizens with a high level of practical experience and
wisdom drawn from different sectors of national life in Nigeria would meet to
reflect and exchange ideas on the great issues of society, particularly as they
relate to Nigeria and Africa, in the context of the dynamics of a constantly
changing world.”
Dr.
Umar is
a Senior Fellow and Chief Operating Officer of the Political Parties Leadership
and Policy Development Centre, NIPSS. He was appointed Acting Director of
Research at the National Institute, Kuru, in March 2024. He holds a B.A.
Combined Honors (History/Political Science) from the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, and an M.Sc. and a PhD in Political Economy and Development Studies from the University of Jos, Nigeria. He
was a Training and Development Officer with the Industrial Training Fund (ITF),
Jos, before joining the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies
(NIPSS). He has published book chapters and journal articles in areas relating
to economic development, public policy, security, ethnic conflicts,
citizenship, civil society and democracy, national integration, federalism,
political parties, and China-Africa cooperation. He has served as a researcher,
consultant, and facilitator to several national and international research
projects and training programs. He was a Fulbright Scholar at Georgia State
University, Atlanta, USA, and a recipient of the Development Diplomacy for Peace
and Security Course Fellowship at Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training
Centre, Accra, Ghana, sponsored by the German International Organization (GIZ).
He attended the Harvard Kennedy School Executive Education Program on Applying
Behavioral Insights to the Design of Public Policy Course in 2018
The
Behavioral Insights Team Training on Applying Behavioral Insights for the
Design of Public Programs and Communications, 2019. Dr. Umar attended the
Senior Executive Course 44, 2022, of the National Institute, Kuru, where he was
awarded a member national institute (MNI) certificate. He is a recipient of the
October 1 Award of China-Nigeria Friendship in recognition of his valuable
contribution to China-Nigeria friendship by the Embassy of the People's
Republic of China in Nigeria, 1st October 2021.
Fellow
of Institute of Management Consultant (FIMC) and a Chartered Management
Consultant (CMC); Member, Nigeria Political Science Association; Member,
International Political Science Association; and Member, Fulbright Alumni Association
of Nigeria. He is married to Rebecca Ufuoma and blessed with two sets of twins
(three boys and a girl). His hobbies include playing golf, watching football,
and listening to gospel music.
ACTIVITIES
Within the last five years, the Directorate of Research has
carried out several workshops and conferences culminating in the publication of
six (6) books arising from these conferences. The Directorate has also, as part
of its mandate, consistently organized the Distinguished Annual Lecture, where
outstanding personalities are invited to speak on topical national issues.
Academic staff of the directorate have also been involved in
the activities of the studies directorate where fellows are invited to present
lectures, supervise participants' essays, attend plenaries, and also make
interventions where called upon. Academic staff also participate in the study
tours of the senior executive course, where they handle the academic aspects of
the tours. They are also involved in activities of the NIPSS Consult, where
they handle some modules of the Policy, Leadership, and Strategy Course (PLSC).
Academic staff of the directorate have equally
participated in conferences and workshops organized by other institutions and
organizations both within and outside the country. Staff of the Directorate of
Research are also involved in the annual Crisis Game simulation aimed at
exposing participants to modern techniques of conflict and crisis resolution in
order to provide practical skills that would be useful in tackling actual
conflict and crisis resolution.COLLABORATIONS WITH OTHER INSTITUTIONS
The Research Directorate has been involved in collaborative
activities with other institutions both within and outside the country towards
achieving its mandate. Among institutions collaborated with are the following:
a. Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution
b. development Research and Project Centre (dRPC) Kano
c. Daily Trust
d. The Partnership to Engage, Reform and Learn
(PERL) and Learning, Evidencing and Advocacy Partnership (LEAP), which is a
pillar of the DFID-funded public sector reform programme
POLITICAL PARTIES LEADERSHIP AND POLICY DEVELOPMENT CENTRE (PPLPDC)
The
Political Parties Leadership and Policy Development Centre (PPLPDC) was created
in 2015 after winning a grant from the European Union (EU) to promote an
inclusive democracy in Nigeria and, indeed, Africa, deepened by strong,
issue-based political parties whose policies serve the interest of citizens.
The vision of the center is to build the capacity of political parties and
leaders for an inclusive democracy, serving the needs of citizens by networking
with national, regional, and global partners and undertaking research,
training, conferences, and workshops. The main objectives of the PPLPDC are to
strengthen the leadership and organizational capacities of political parties as
institutional foundations of Nigeria’s democracy and ensure that political parties
are policy-oriented, responsive, inclusive, and more accountable to their
members and society. The Centre has been involved in organizing conferences and
workshops for political parties. A recent major activity of the center is its
participation in the 2019 General Elections Observation, whose report will soon
be presented.
