By Nasir Shuaibu (Bauchi State Correspondent)
The National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS) has said its National Quiz Competition for Senior Secondary Schools on Legislation and Democracy is aimed at deepening young Nigerians’ understanding of democratic governance and civic responsibilities.
The Director-General of the institute, Prof. Abubakar Olanrewaju Sulaiman, stated this while welcoming participants to the 2026 edition of the competition in Bauchi on Tuesday.
He said the programme was established to expose students to the workings of the legislature, democratic institutions and the processes through which laws are made.
Sulaiman said an informed citizenry was essential to the effective functioning and sustainability of democracy, noting that young people needed to understand the roles, powers and limitations of the legislature.
According to him, the competition had enabled participating students to acquire knowledge about lawmaking, representation and the rule of law.
He identified apathy, misinformation and intolerance as challenges to democratic development, stressing that education, critical thinking and civic engagement could help address them.
The NILDS boss said the initiative, now in its 11th year, began with secondary schools in the Federal Capital Territory before expanding to schools across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones.
He described the competition as an investment in the future of Nigeria’s democracy, urging the students to take the knowledge gained beyond the competition and become responsible citizens.
“You are the future custodians of Nigeria’s democracy,” Sulaiman told the participants.
Representing the Bauchi State Commissioner for Education, Abdulkadir Mohammed Ibrahim, the Director of Quality Assurance encouraged the students to participate actively and demonstrate their knowledge during the competition.
He said the opportunity should be taken seriously because many students would wish to participate but could not, urging the participants to justify their selection through dedication and discipline.
The competition brought together students from selected secondary schools in Bauchi State to test their knowledge of legislation, democracy and governance.
Sulaiman also commended teachers and state representatives for their guidance and mentorship, as well as partners supporting the institute’s civic education initiatives. NNL.
