Nigeria has taken a bold step towards strengthening its capacity for international partnerships and sustainable development as 76 professionals were inducted into the Institute of Negotiators, Community and Social Development Experts (INCODES) in Abuja.
The new inductees, drawn from diverse sectors, were certified as professional negotiators and development practitioners, a move expected to boost Nigeria’s access to global development grants worth over $40 trillion projected to be spent globally within the next five years.
Speaking at the ceremony, the Governor of Bauchi State, represented by the Head of Service, Alhaji Sani Umar, noted that negotiation and social development remain vital tools for building a more inclusive and prosperous Nigeria.
“Negotiation is not just a tool; it is the bridge that connects divergent interests and the balm that heals societal wounds,” he said. “As leaders, we must embrace negotiation not as a sign of weakness but as a demonstration of wisdom.”
The Governor praised the institute for institutionalizing negotiation as a professional discipline, adding that the Institute’s work was essential for fostering peace, unity, and participatory governance.
He noted that Bauchi State had invested heavily in education, healthcare, youth empowerment, and rural infrastructure, emphasizing that development could only be sustained through collaboration between government, civil society, and professional bodies like INCOSDE.
Delivering the keynote address, Ambassador Akinremi Bolaji, a Director at the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs, shared his decades-long diplomatic experience, stressing that negotiation was at the heart of every successful governance process.
“Negotiation is not about who wins or loses. It is about finding common ground and creating shared value,” he said. “You must have development at the back of your mind — whether at community, national, or international level.”
Ambassador Bolaji, who once chaired negotiations at the United Nations, revealed how Nigeria successfully led the adoption of key resolutions on illicit financial flows and tax reforms through consensus-building, a skill he urged the new inductees to emulate.
Also speaking, the Executive Secretary of Institute of Negotiations, Community and Social Development Experts , Dr. Kunle Yusuf, maintained that the Institute was committed to equipping Nigerians with the skills needed to access and manage international development funds.
He disclosed that global development agencies are projected to invest over $40 trillion in climate change mitigation, poverty reduction, and strategic partnerships between 2025 and 2030, and that Nigeria must build a strong base of certified professionals to tap into these opportunities.
“Every professional working within the development space in Nigeria should be able to access global grants — guided by logic, science, and data,” Dr. Yusuf said. “With this certification, our members will have access to an international database of donor agencies and development partners.”
He commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his administration’s support in strengthening Nigeria’s development ecosystem, particularly through the establishment of the National Climate Change Commission (NCCC) and the National Greenway Award, both aimed at promoting sustainable environmental and economic growth.
The event also featured goodwill messages from the Director General of the Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution (IPCR), Dr. Joseph Ochogwu, who lauded the initiative as a major stride toward professionalizing development work in Nigeria.
The newly inducted professionals were conferred as Fellows, Members, and Associate Members of the Institute, marking their formal entry into the global community of negotiators and development experts.
As Nigeria seeks to strengthen its international partnerships and attract foreign grants, INCOSDE”s initiative is expected to play a crucial role in shaping a generation of professionals capable of negotiating effectively for the nation’s growth and global relevance.
