National Security Adviser (NSA) Nuhu Ribadu has endorsed a bill seeking to establish the Strategic Intelligence Management Institute (SIMI), calling it a critical mechanism to enhance intelligence-driven governance and policy formulation in Nigeria. Speaking through Commodore Bamidele at a public hearing on the bill before the House of Representatives Committee on National Security and Intelligence on Thursday, Ribadu described the proposed institution as a vital step to strengthen Nigeria's domestic and external security amid growing geopolitical uncertainty and complex security challenges.
Bridging Intelligence and Policy
Ribadu noted that SIMI would cultivate a new generation of technocrats and public leaders capable of interpreting and deploying intelligence for effective public policy. He emphasized that the institute would bring together senior officers from military, paramilitary, intelligence agencies, and key civilian ministries in a shared learning environment, equipping them to transform intelligence assessments into actionable state policy.
“This initiative seeks to bridge the gap between intelligence collection and strategic decision-making, ensuring that intelligence becomes an enduring instrument of governance and national development,” Ribadu said. He argued that enacting the SIMI bill is a strategic imperative for safeguarding Nigeria's sovereignty, adding, “The establishment of SIMI is a necessity. It will provide the nation with highly trained leaders capable of anticipating and countering emerging threats, securing our borders, protecting national interests, and contributing to the stability and security of West Africa.”
Institute to Complement Existing Bodies
Jadesola Adesuyi, provost of SIMI and an alumna of the National Institute, described the institute as forward-looking, designed to prepare leaders for an unpredictable world. “SIMI is about winning ahead. It is about building the capacity to anticipate rather than react; to shape events rather than merely respond to them,” she said. Addressing concerns about duplication with the National Institute for Security Studies (NISS), Adesuyi stressed that the mandates of both institutions are fundamentally different, requiring distinct curricula and training models. She drew an analogy with the military, noting that while the National Defence College serves as the apex institution, specialized training institutions exist for each branch.
Adesuyi also noted that SIMI aligns with international best practice, as intelligence and security services worldwide maintain dedicated academies for leadership development and strategic policy training. Despite its short existence, SIMI has achieved notable milestones and generated high-impact policy recommendations for government consideration. “SIMI is not merely an institution; it is an investment in foresight, preparedness, and national resilience,” she concluded.
