The European Union, through its Support to Democratic Governance in Nigeria (EU-SDGN) programme, has launched an initiative aimed at empowering young Nigerians and enhancing legislative processes. The initiative, the Constituency Office Internship Programme (COIP), focuses on training and deploying interns to Nigeria’s National Assembly.
Facilitated by the EU-SDGN cohort in collaboration with Yiaga Africa’s Centre for Legislative Engagement (CLE), the internship provides participants with in-depth exposure to legislative activities while offering valuable funding to various constituency offices in the House of Representatives.
At the programme’s opening ceremony, Prof. Abubakar O. Sulaiman, Director General of the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS), emphasized the initiative’s significance. He pointed out that a long-standing challenge in Nigeria’s democratic system has been the weak link between legislators and the electorate. “This gap often results in low trust and diminished confidence in governance,” he said, noting that the COIP aims to bridge this divide by offering young Nigerians the chance to engage directly with legislative offices.
Prof. Sulaiman further underlined the dual purpose of the programme: capacity building and fostering youth participation in governance. “By placing young people at the heart of legislative operations, COIP not only amplifies their voices but also empowers them to actively shape policies that impact their lives,” he stated.
Encouraging the interns, he urged them to approach the internship with dedication, curiosity, and a sense of responsibility. “You are not only representing yourselves, but also embodying the aspirations of millions of young Nigerians who seek to contribute meaningfully to the nation’s development,” he said.
The Chairman of the House Committee on Constituency Outreach, Rt. Hon. Dickson Tarkighir OON, also addressed the interns, citing prominent Nigerians such as Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Director-General of the World Trade Organization, and Dr. Amina J. Mohammed, Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations, who have benefitted from similar programmes. He encouraged the interns to approach the opportunity seriously, saying, “This is a path to becoming better – better at what you are passionate about, better at learning on the job, and better at bringing innovative ideas to the table.”
The three-month internship programme is part of the EU’s broader efforts to strengthen the democratic process in Nigeria and provide funding to the National Assembly, while promoting youth participation in governance. The COIP serves as a critical step in ensuring that young professionals are actively engaged in shaping the future of Nigeria.
