NILDS says school quiz will strengthen democratic understanding

The National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies has described its quiz competition for secondary school students as an investment in Nigeria’s democratic future. NILDS Director General Abubakar Sulaiman spoke in Owerri on Tuesday during the 11th edition of the state-level competition on the legislature and democracy across Imo State’s three senatorial districts. Sulaiman said the programme was designed to improve young Nigerians’ understanding of the legislature, democracy and governance.

He said it also aimed to encourage participation, accountability and patriotism. According to him, democracy depends not only on laws and institutions but also on citizens who understand how public institutions work. He said young people needed to know the roles, powers and limits of the legislature and other democratic institutions.

Sulaiman said the initiative began as a modest competition for schools in the Federal Capital Territory and had expanded to schools across Nigeria’s geopolitical zones. He argued that education, critical thinking and civic engagement were necessary to address challenges facing democracy. He commended Senate President Godswill Akpabio and House of Representatives Speaker Tajudeen Abbas for supporting the programme through their roles as chairman and alternate chairman of the NILDS Governing Council.

The Executive Secretary of the Imo State Secondary Education Management Board, Theresa Okwu, described NILDS as a National Assembly institution responsible for research, training, capacity development and knowledge of legislative and democratic processes. Okwu said the quiz gave students an opportunity to learn about constitutional governance, civic responsibility and democratic principles. She encouraged participants to use the contest to sharpen their critical thinking and build confidence in public intellectual engagement.

At the end of the Imo competition, Eziachi Secondary School in Orlu, representing Imo West Senatorial District, emerged winner. The Imo NILDS coordinator, Ifeyinwa Udenkwo, said the school would proceed to the South-East zonal stage, where a regional winner will be determined.