The Speaker of Parliament, Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, on Monday, November 17, 2025, officially launched the Speaker’s Scholarship in partnership with NIBS University for Members of Parliament (MPs) and Parliamentary Service staff.
The initiative is designed to boost advanced academic training and evidence-based governance within the legislative arm of government, fulfilling the Speaker’s vision of creating a knowledge-based institution that serves as a model for Africa.
Speaking at the launch, Speaker Bagbin framed the scholarship not as a mere academic venture, but as a “strategic investment in the future of governance and Parliament.” He emphasized that an effective legislature thrives on “knowledge, evidence, and wisdom,” stating, “The strongest Parliament is not the one that makes the loudest noise, but the one that learns and leans the most.”
The Speaker announced that the scholarship, which he intends to make a permanent legacy long after his tenure, will provide funding for doctoral and master’s programmes, particularly the Doctor of Public Sector Innovation and Leadership programme offered by NIBS University and are strictly targeted at those prepared to apply their learning to their legislative work.
”I am very vigilant and focusing on those who really are prepared to shape our laws, policies, and governance systems,” he said, adding that the goal is to empower public officials to “reimagine governance as a tool for transformation.”
The initiative is structured to deliver five key outcomes. First, it promotes lifelong learning among legislators and staff, ensuring they remain at the forefront of informed and data-driven decision-making. Second, it aims at strengthening policy research and legislative analysis, better equipping beneficiaries to conduct rigorous research and produce evidence-based policy papers that enrich parliamentary debates.
Third, the scholarship seeks to bridge the gap between academia and government, fostering a partnership where legislative policies are guided by scholarship while academia engages with capital entities of governments.
Fourth, the project is designed to build a legacy of knowledge and impact, establishing intellectual depth and excellence in Parliament. Crucially, the Speaker highlighted this as key to enhancing oversight, which he cited as Parliament’s “weakest point,” stating, “We need to have that ability to ask the founder, the proprietor, and vice-chancellor of the new student association relevant questions to be able to dig deep.”
The fifth expected outcome is embedding a culture of innovation and strategic thinking within Parliament to manage change and contribute effectively to national development.
The Speaker commended NIBS University for its “visionary leadership” in advancing the partnership, noting that its commitment to bridging theory and practice is transformative.
He also used the opportunity to comment on the broader political landscape, sharing a candid analysis of the two major political parties. He observed that while the NDC must address weaknesses in the area of business, the NPP must work on its democratic culture, stating, “Both parties must work on programming progress.”
The Speaker concluded by reaffirming his personal financial commitment to the fund to ensure the scholarship is permanently embedded in his name, securing a lasting legacy of scholarly excellence within the legislature.
Story By: Eugenia Ewoenam Osei
