Jos — Former President Olusegun Obasanjo, yesterday said National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPPS) has not adequately addressed its mission statement of being a catalyst in proffering answers to weaknesses and diversity of the federal administration. He therefore tasked the institution to work more assiduously to meet its goal.

Obasanjo, who was the distinguished guest speaker at the 30th Anniversary Lecture of the institution, said it was regrettable that NIPSS has been turned to a ground for punishment posting.

The former president, however said that 30 years of survival of the institution was an achievement on its own, but tasked the alumni of the institution to monitor the progress of their colleagues. He said an alumni office should be put in place for the purpose.

In his address, the Director General of the Institution, Professor Danfulani Ahmed, who described the ceremony as one with a difference said it coincides with the 30th anniversary of the establishment of the National Institute.

Danfulani recalled that SEC 30 (2008) participants had been charged to work on the theme: "Towards a Roadmap for National Development: Vision 20-20:20 and the Seven-point Agenda". This, according to him, was successfully executed after which, as a follow up, Mr. President charged the present set-SEC 31 Participants - to work on the theme: "Good Governance as a Prerequisite for the Realisation of Vision 20-2020 and Seven-Point Agenda". To achieve this mandate, SEC 31 Participants worked throughout the year on the theme. He said in order to come to grips with the theme, participants have worked both as individual and in groups.

Turning to the graduands, the DG said "to whom much is given, much is expected. You have been exposed to a unique, subtle, self-induced learning process. My clarion call on our graduands of today is simple. Today, another set of Nigeria's policy spectrum, the brightest and the best, from both the private and public sectors of our nation are being invested by our enormous trust. The generation yet unborn will take a retrospective look at today when tomorrow comes Our leaders' anxiety gets relived through you, as the joy of hard fathers lies in very promising successor generation. The National Institute has re-invented you to become beacons of integrity while repositioning our collective path to a greater future".

Vice President Goodluck Jonathan, presented certificates to the 64 participants who had passed through the 10 months of rigorous studies to attain the prestigious membership of the institute, mni. The 65th Participant, Mrs. Susan Leks died during the course.

Some of the Participants emulated the quality of studies given them during the course; the Monitor-General and Secretary General of the SEC 31, Senator Abubakar Girei and Mr. Sola Ephraim-Oluwanuga respectively, who both spoke with our reporter, described the course as worthwhile and pledged to use the lesson they got to improve the lots of Nigeria when they go out there.