Senate President Godswill Akpabio has urged Nigerian students to take an interest in legislative activities and prepare for leadership.

Mr Akpabio stated this at the grand finale of the 11th National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS) National Quiz Competition held on Monday in Abuja.

Represented by Titus Zam, chairman of the Senate Committee on North-Central Development Commission and Rules and Business, Mr Akpabio said the legislature belonged to everyone and required their support.

He urged the students to understand the legislature’s roles in lawmaking, oversight and representation in Nigeria.

Mr Akpabio said the competition would help young Nigerians appreciate democratic values, adding that some participants could become future senators, speakers and other national leaders someday.

Speaker of the House of Representatives, Abbas Tajudeen, urged young Nigerians to embrace democratic values and understand the legislature’s constitutional responsibilities and important functions.

Mr Abbas, represented by Kafilat Ogbara, chairman of the House Committee on Women and Social Development, described legislative education as an investment in Nigeria’s democratic future and quality leadership.

He said young people should cultivate integrity, tolerance, accountability, and respect for differing opinions while participating meaningfully in the country’s democratic processes and public affairs.

In his welcome address, the director-general of NILDS, Abubakar Sulaiman, said 222 secondary schools took part in this year’s competition across Nigeria.

Mr Sulaiman said 37 schools advanced to zonal contests, producing six finalist teams that represented Nigeria’s six geo-political zones at the grand finale.

He said the competition was established over a decade ago to bridge the gap between youth civic awareness and democratic governance in the country’s secondary schools.

“Our competition was established over a decade ago to bridge the gap between youth civic awareness and democratic governance in Nigerian secondary schools nationwide.

“Engaging students in parliamentary procedures, constitutional order and democratic history will help develop informed, responsible and active citizens across the country for Nigeria’s democratic future.

“We must prepare future custodians of public institutions to understand their rights and appreciate strong, transparent and accountable democratic structures across Nigeria as responsible citizens,” Mr Sulaiman said.

According to him, specialised knowledge of the legislature’s constitutional roles in lawmaking, representation and oversight remains limited despite civic education being taught in secondary schools.

Mr Sulaiman commended the steering committee and state representatives for coordinating the competition while appreciating the National Assembly for its continued support and collaboration.

He also thanked teachers and school principals for nurturing students, saying their commitment to academic standards and civic mentorship had contributed to the initiative’s success.

The director-general urged contestants to demonstrate humility, enthusiasm, and patriotism, saying the competition celebrated knowledge, unity, and civic excellence beyond winning the trophy and prizes.

He reaffirmed the institute’s commitment to supporting legislative excellence, strengthening democratic institutions and promoting civic literacy across all strata of Nigerian society and its institutions.

The director of special duties at the FCT Education Secretariat, Ramatu Ajuji, said NILDS had strengthened students’ understanding of legislative institutions through its annual competition.

Ms Ajuji, while describing the participating schools as winners for emerging from their respective zones to compete in the quiz, urged contestants to remain committed.

(NAN)