On March 18–19, 2026, the Management of the Nigerian Institute of Social and Economic Research (NISER) held a strategic retreat focused on “Repositioning NISER for Relevance, Sustainability, and Policy Impact (2026–2028).” The retreat provided an opportunity for institutional reflection and alignment on priorities for the coming years.

Discussions centered on strengthening NISER’s role as a leading policy research institution, with particular emphasis on enhancing its responsiveness to national development needs and improving its overall impact on public policy.

Key outcomes of the retreat include a renewed commitment to:

• Strengthening institutional sustainability, including efforts to broaden funding sources and improve operational efficiency;
• Enhancing policy relevance, by ensuring that research outputs are timely, demand-driven, and aligned with national priorities;
• Expanding strategic partnerships, both within government and with external stakeholders, to support collaborative research and policy engagement;
• Improving visibility and communication, through more effective dissemination of research and increased engagement with diverse audiences; and
• Building internal capacity, to support innovation, efficiency, and long-term institutional growth.

The retreat reaffirmed NISER’s mandate as a key provider of evidence-based policy advice and underscored the importance of adaptability in an evolving policy environment.

Overall, the outcomes signal a clear institutional direction toward greater relevance, resilience, and impact in supporting Nigeria’s development agenda over the 2026–2028 period.