Abuja: The National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS) has urged the Government of Malawi to establish an embassy in Nigeria to strengthen legislative diplomacy between the two nations. The Director-General of NILDS, Prof. Abubakar Sulaiman, made this call during a workshop held in Abuja for members of the Parliamentary Service Commission (PSC) and the Malawian Parliament.

According to News Agency of Nigeria, the workshop, themed ‘Repositioning Parliamentary Administration in a Changing Global Environment,’ served as a platform to discuss the shared diplomatic relations between Nigeria and Malawi, which date back to 1964. Prof. Sulaiman emphasized that both countries, as Commonwealth members, have maintained trade relations, with Malawi showing interest in Nigeria’s mining sector.

Sulaiman highlighted the absence of a Malawian embassy in Nigeria, noting that Malawi has been managing its diplomatic relations through its embassy in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. He urged the Malawian government
to expedite the establishment of an embassy in Nigeria, similar to Nigeria’s High Commission in Malawi.

In discussions with journalists, Sulaiman pointed out that African countries often engage with one another primarily through the executive branch. He advocated for the benefits of parliamentary diplomacy in addressing challenges such as insecurity, economic growth, unemployment, and trade relations across the continent. Sulaiman asserted that NILDS possesses the necessary capacity and resources to support legislative and democratic initiatives for African parliaments.

The workshop also featured insights from Mr. Modalsto Kazombo, the First Deputy Speaker of the Parliament of Malawi. Kazombo highlighted the importance of the workshop in the context of Malawi’s ongoing efforts to reform its parliament. He emphasized the goal of transforming the Malawian parliament into a people-centered institution that is accountable and efficient in its legislative and oversight functions.

Kazombo expressed hope that the
training provided at the workshop would align with the PSC’s strategies for professional development and improved institutional performance. He conveyed confidence that these efforts would contribute to the successful implementation of the Malawian Parliament Strategic Plan.