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Department of Studies
The studies department is headed by a Director who is assisted by four seasoned and experienced resource persons serving as moderators. The department is responsible
for the designing of studies programmes for the participants of Senior Executive Courses.The Senior Executive Course (SEC) lasts a little over nine months, from early February to early November and covers, broad
areas such as:
a) Policy and Strategy b) The Domestic Environment c) Regional Studies d) Science and Technology e) Defence and Security
f) International relations, and International Organisations g) Information Technology, and h) Energy
Each participant on the course is expected to submit a dissertation of about 8000 words on an approved topic of importance and relevance to Nigeria. These researches are conducted under the guidance of the
Director and his Moderators in the department. Right from the onset, the research topics are selected within the Department of Studies and thereafter approved by the Board of Studies.
As the Institute does not
have a teaching faculty, as in a university, the course is run largely on a system of self-study based on lectures delivered by invited prominent and distinguished personalities. The very rich experience and expertise
of these guest lecturers, drawn from all sectors of national life, are tapped to stimulate the thinking of participants. Seminars, discussions, group research works and tours feature prominently. During each course,
three tours are undertaken, namely, a local tour, which involves visits by research groups of participants to various states within Nigeria; a tour of selected African countries and a tour of selected countries outside
Africa.
In order to provide a free and uninhibited atmosphere for objective expression of views by guest lecturers, staff and participants, the Institute operates the principle of non-attribution. In other words,
nothing said by a lecturer or any other participant at a lecture or discussion, which forms part of the Institute's training programme, is to be attributed to him outside the Institute. Furthermore, unless they wish,
lecturers are not obliged to distribute notes to anyone. Participants are, however, at liberty to takedown notes if they wish. No lecturer is to be tape-recorded.
Admission into the Senior Executive Course is by
nomination, by sponsoring organisations and approval by the office of the Vice-President. The sponsoring organisations include the civil services (Federal and State), the universities and other institutions of learning,
the armed forces and the police, the Nigerian Labour Congress, women organisations, professional associations and other organised bodies of the private sector. Furthermore, the level of selection is deliberately set
high so that, apart from professional skills and qualifications, participants should have considerable practical experience to enable them contribute authoritatively to discussions on crucial issues. For example, in the
armed forces, nominees are for the time being pegged at the rank of Brigadier-General and or Colonel or its equivalent in the other services; Directors and above in the civil service; and in the private sector, very
senior managers.
The course is fully residential and the Institute centrally feeds participants. No fees are charged for both accommodation and feeding for now but this policy is subject to review. Sponsors are
responsible for the payment of the salaries of their nominees. Arrangements for these salary payments must be concluded between sponsors and their respective nominees before the latter travels to the Institute. The
National Institute is not involved in these matters whatsoever.
The daily work routine of Participants on the SEC from Monday to Friday, is as follows:
Integrated Research Group (IRG) Discussions - 9.00 – 10. 00 a.m.
Lectures and Discussions with coffee Break in between - 10.00 – 2.00 p.m.
Lunch - 2.00 – 3.00 p.m.
French / Computer Lessons - 4.00 p.m. (Twice Weekly). GRADUATION
At the end of the course, participants who fulfill all the requirements are awarded certificates entitling
them to "Membership of the National Institute" (mni)
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