By Chuwang Dungs
The National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), Kuru, is taking a bold step into the future with the development of a humanoid robot designed to serve as an instructional aide for students.
The institute’s Director-General, Ayo Omotayo, confirmed the initiative in an interview with Journalists on Monday in Plateau State.
The robot project is part of a broader transformation at NIPSS, an institution historically viewed as Nigeria’s quiet policy think-tank, now rebranding itself as a hub for governance innovation, technology development, and community-centered reforms.
Mr. Omotayo explained that the institute embraced this new path after a challenge from the highest levels of government to prove its relevance or risk fading into obscurity. “That message pushed NIPSS to step beyond traditional advisory roles and adopt a more hands-on approach to national development,” he said.
From Policy Advising to Action-Oriented Interventions
In recent months, NIPSS has issued rapid-response policy briefs to the Presidency during national emergencies and strengthened partnerships with key economic sectors.
The DG revealed that the institute is working directly with the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria on a new national manufacturing policy, has submitted comprehensive proposals for the mining sector, and concluded major interventions in agriculture and the mining economy, including a fisheries development framework sponsored by the Minister of Mining.
“These initiatives mark a departure from the passive tradition of government institutions that comment from the sidelines rather than offering operational solutions,” Mr. Omotayo noted.
Expanding Access Through Regional Centres
A central element of NIPSS’s reform agenda is the creation of regional centres to decentralize governance and leadership training. The South-West centre in Agowe is already operational, with another planned for Enugu following high-level meetings in mid-December. Centres for the South-South and North-East regions are also under consideration.
“People shouldn’t have to travel hundreds of kilometres to access our training,” Mr. Omotayo said. “Wherever NIPSS is present, the quality and serenity must be identical.”
Humanoid Robots Tackle Teacher Shortages
The standout innovation is the humanoid robot developed by NIPSS’s technical team.
Mr. Omotayo explained that the prototype is being adapted into a robot teacher, with potential deployment in remote communities facing chronic teacher shortages. Once patented, the robots could be made available for local government purchase, part of NIPSS’s strategy to diversify funding and reduce reliance on federal allocations.
“These robots will be deployed in schools, especially in rural communities that teachers often avoid,” he said.
Diversifying Revenue and Strengthening Community Engagement
Beyond technological innovations, NIPSS is pursuing profit-based courses, grants, and partnerships to improve financial stability.
The institute has also launched a strong corporate social responsibility program. It operates a monthly sanitary pad bank for school girls, supplies technical education textbooks for senior secondary students, and runs upgraded day-tech schools that attract pupils from surrounding communities. Student performance, previously peaking at 171 in major exams, has risen to nearly 240.
A formal volunteer scheme, which pays participants minimum wage while they gain public-sector experience, has also been established.
Mr. Omotayo highlighted the construction of a community school by Senior Executive Course participants, now run in partnership with the Nigeria Police.
A New Era for NIPSS
The ambitious reforms raise questions about sustainability, especially whether future administrations will maintain the momentum.
Still, under Mr. Omotayo, NIPSS has delivered tangible results: policy interventions across critical sectors, decentralized training, a robotics initiative, improved educational outcomes, and stronger community engagement.
Once known as a quiet think-tank, NIPSS is now emerging as a bold, tech-driven, action-oriented institution.