The Chairman, Conference of Speakers of State Legislatures of Nigeria and Speaker of the Oyo State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Adebo Ogundoyin, has sought the support of the People’s Republic of China to drive the digital transformation of legislative institutions across Nigerian states.
Rt. Hon. Ogundoyin made the appeal on Friday during a courtesy visit to the Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, Ambassador Yu Dunhai, at the Chinese Embassy in Abuja.
Speaking on behalf of the 36 State Houses of Assembly under the umbrella of the Conference of Speakers, the Chairman expressed gratitude to the Ambassador for the warm reception, extending goodwill on behalf of all Nigerian State Legislatures.
He identified key areas of potential collaboration between China and Nigerian State Legislatures, including legislative capacity building, digital governance infrastructure, education and technology exchange, as well as strategic investments in infrastructure, agriculture, and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
“In line with global best practices, we are keen on fully digitizing legislative processes at the sub-national level in Nigeria to enhance transparency, citizen participation, and institutional efficiency.
“Our vision is to build smart, responsive and transparent legislative institutions that meet today’s digital demands.
“China’s expertise in e-governance and legislative innovation presents a valuable opportunity for us to learn and adapt,” Rt. Hon. Ogundoyin said.
He further expressed interest in leveraging China’s experience in legislative drafting, committee systems, and development-focused policy frameworks to strengthen Nigeria’s lawmaking institutions.
The Speaker also advocated for educational exchange programmes, scholarships, and technology transfer opportunities that would empower Nigerian youths, build capacity, and foster innovation across sectors.
Reaffirming the Conference’s commitment to continuous engagement, Rt. Hon. Ogundoyin emphasized the importance of international partnerships in accelerating national development.
In his response, Ambassador Yu Dunhai welcomed the initiative and lauded the Conference of Speakers for its forward-looking and developmental efforts.
He assured the delegation of the Chinese government’s readiness to explore mutually beneficial areas of cooperation that would further solidify China-Nigeria bilateral relations, especially at the sub-national level.