By Fatima Saka
Abuja — The Clerk to the National Assembly, Mr. Kamoru Ogunlana, has declared that Nigeria’s democratic future rests largely in the hands of informed and engaged young people, as he charged graduates of the Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre (PLAC) Legislative Internship Programme to champion democratic governance.
Ogunlana made the call at the Model Legislative Assembly Session marking the conclusion of the 2026 PLAC Legislative Internship Programme in Abuja, where he commended PLAC for its sustained efforts in grooming the next generation of legislative professionals.
Represented by Dr. Ali B. Umoru, the Clerk congratulated the interns on successfully completing the rigorous programme and urged them to remain committed to the ideals of integrity, accountability, and public service.
He noted that the internship provided participants with practical exposure to the workings of the National Assembly, including lawmaking, representation, oversight functions, committee proceedings, legislative drafting, and research.
According to him, the hands-on experience has equipped the interns with the knowledge and skills required to contribute meaningfully to governance and national development.
“The Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre Legislative Internship Programme has distinguished itself as one of Nigeria’s foremost initiatives for preparing young Nigerians for careers in legislative practice, public policy, governance, and democratic leadership,” Ogunlana said.
He praised PLAC for its unwavering commitment to strengthening democratic institutions through capacity building and investing in young Nigerians with the potential to become future legislators, policy experts, and public leaders.
Ogunlana also acknowledged the contributions of the leadership and members of the National Assembly, legislative staff, mentors, facilitators, and development partners who ensured the success of the programme.
Addressing the graduating interns, he urged them to view the completion of the internship not as the end of their journey but as the beginning of a lifelong commitment to service, excellence, and democratic values.
“The future of our democracy depends significantly on young people who are informed, engaged, innovative, and committed to the principles of accountability, transparency, and the rule of law,” he stated.
He further encouraged the interns to sustain the professional relationships built during the programme and continue developing their leadership capacity.
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Ogunlana stressed the importance of the Model Legislative Assembly Session, describing it as a platform to test the interns’ understanding of legislative procedures, as well as their ability to debate constructively and collaborate for the common good.
He expressed confidence that the knowledge and experience gained during the internship would position the participants for greater accomplishments, adding that many of them would return to the National Assembly in the future as distinguished legislators, parliamentary officers, and policy leaders dedicated to strengthening Nigeria’s democratic institutions.
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