The Nigerian Institute of Social and Economic Research (NISER), in partnership with the International Republican Institute (IRI), convened a two-day technical dialogue themed “Institutionalizing Democratic Resilience through Research & Policy-Making Sovereignty.” The meeting was held at the Black Diamond Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos, on September 28–29, 2026.
The dialogue focused on strengthening Nigeria’s research ecosystem and building sustainable, long-term democratic resilience through strategic partnerships between evidence producers and potential users of research.
At the opening session, the IRI Regional Program Director, Sentell Barnes, highlighted the importance of engaging subject-matter experts across a wide range of development issues. The NISER Director-General, Prof. Antonia Simbine, emphasised that research sovereignty connotes a domestically driven research and policy agenda, while sustaining productive external partnerships. She stressed that the concept does not imply isolation from external partners; rather, it seeks to reduce foreign dependency in setting research and policy priorities.
Prof. Simbine further emphasised the need for sustainable research financing and for research institutions to produce usable, accessible and relatable knowledge products that can effectively inform decision-makers.
The meeting brought together representatives of research institutions, Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), political parties and civil society organisations. Participants explored practical mechanisms for strengthening research-to-policy linkages, sustainable research financing and the articulation of national research priorities.
A key message emerging from the sessions was the need to move beyond simply producing research to building systems that ensure that evidence reaches, resonates with and informs decision-makers. As highlighted during the sessions, “whoever pays for research determines the agenda,” underscoring the importance of strengthening domestic financing and national ownership of research priorities.
In her closing remarks, Prof. Simbine called for the operationalisation of the proposed 0–36-month action framework to advance Nigeria’s research sovereignty.
NISER remains committed to strengthening Nigeria’s research-to-policy ecosystem through collaboration with government, research institutions, political actors, civil society and other stakeholders, while advancing evidence-informed approaches to Nigeria’s development priorities.