Ghanaian Speaker takes over from Gbajabiamila as COSAP leader

…promises to mentor African youths on legislative oversight

By Tom Okpe

Ghanaian Parliamentary Speaker, Alban Sumana Bagbin has taken over reign of the Conference, Head of African Parliamentary Speakers, (COSAP) from it’s outgoing leader, Femi Gbajabiamila in Abuja.

Bagbin pledged to mentor African youths on leadership and legislative oversight of the parliament to help in deepening democracy and good governance in African countries.

Gbajabiamila at the handover ceremony in his office, National Assembly, Abuja on Thursday had the Legislative Mentorsship Initiative, (LMI) his brainchild, renamed; the Gbajabiamila Legislative Mentorsship Initiative, (GLMI).

In his speech, the Ghanian parliamentarian said African parliaments must work towards ensuring effective oversight of government and its agencies for democracy to thrive in the continent.

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He further stated that there is need for African parliaments to advance the mentorship and training of youths in democratic governance adding that we must strengthen parliament’s oversight roles on African states rising debt profile.

The parliamentarian also called for a collaborative working relationship between the Nigerian parliament and many other parliaments in Africa to ensure democratic governance is safeguarded and allowed to thrive.

“Under my leadership, we will tackle extremism and combat certain negative lifestyles. We ‘ll reinforce the need for collaborative action in areas of mutual interest to African nations,” he said.

Earlier in his opening remarks, Gbajabiamila said he is handing over the leadership of the Conference of Speakers and Heads of African Parliaments to his Ghanian counterpart to ensure continuity, stating that it is gratifying to see democratic rule is thriving in most African nations.

He urged his visitor and colleague to ensure that after leaving office as speaker, friendship and partnerships between the two leading African countries would continue and strengthened.

Also speaking, Director, Legislative Mentorship Initiative Dapo Oyewole said LMI, brainchild of the Speaker of the Nigerian parliament is renamed Gbajabiamila Legislative Mentorsship Initiative, (GLMI) for training of youths in legislative process and public sector leadership.

The LMI is a training institute, directly involved in identifying, harnessing and training talents of the Nigerian youths to ensure that they participate in decision making in the country.

The organisers of the event said LMI has been transformed into National Institute of Legislative and Democratic Studies, (NILDS) training curriculum to ensure its continuity with the aim of making youth and leadership development, national priority.

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