Olaopa

GBENRO ADESINA/IBADAN

The Ibadan School of Government and Public Policy has established a Public Policy Group, PPG, to provide leadership in terms of determining both the broad areas and specific policy issues that would attract the research attention of ISGPP in the short, medium and long run.

The 34-member group, comprises intellectuals and highly experienced professionals from various academic and vocations fields including: public sector, industry, academia, private sector, ICT, security and gender.

Other areas of expertise of the members also cut across: communication/media, governance, local government, leadership studies, spirituality/religion, demography, foreign affairs, education among others.

The group is chaired by the Chairman, Centre for Trade and Development Initiative, Prof. Ademola Oyejide. Other members include: Emeritus Professor, Prof. John Ayoade of the University of Ibadan, UI, an author and publisher, Prof. Pai Obanya, Chancellor, Lead City, University Prof. Gabriel Ogunmola, Prof. Isaac Olawale Albert, Prof. Mike Adeyeye, Prof. Bayo Okunade, Prof. Ayo Olukotun, Mr. Eze Onyekpere, Dr. Funke Fayehun, Ambassador Olukanni, Engr. John Ayodele, Dr. Babatunde Oyedeji and Elder Ayo Ojebode.

In his speech during the inauguration PPG, the Executive Vice Chairman, ISGPP, Dr. Tunji Olaopa said the ISGPP seeks to leverage on the wealth of knowledge, experience and distinct progressive thinking of the resource persons in the pursuit of its strategic objective which is to get the Nigerian government to work better than it is presently doing for democratic governance and development.

He expressed hope that, from the work of the PPG, the ISGPP would jumpstart critical policy dialogue on various issues of national importance.

ISGPP Chairman, Professor Akin Mabogunje lamented the inability of the government to implement good ideas and policies that could move the nation forward

His words, There is clearly a glaring need for government and all stakeholders in the socio-economic development to prioritise on areas requiring urgent attention for policy development and articulation.

The rising level of youth unemployment, rural and urban poverty exacerbating the trend to violent and reckless militancy ensure that the immediate goals of policy articulation are already well spelt out.

The strident and immediate nature of the challenges facing the country is not only in the economic sector but also in other areas of national importance thus emphasizes that policy development must go beyond mere formulation to paying particular attention to strategies of implementation.

It is almost trite to say that in Nigeria, ideas and policies are not in short supply; what is lacking are the strategies to ensure that these ideas and policies are not only implementable but are implemented within realistic time frame”.