By Our Correspondent
Members of the Nasarawa State House of Assembly have participated in the 55th Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA), Africa Region Conference in Malawi, as part of efforts to strengthen legislative expertise, promote good governance and advance sustainable development in the state.
The Nasarawa lawmakers were led to the conference by the Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Danladi Jatau, Ph.D., for the regional conference held from August 9 to 16, 2026.
Hosted by the Parliament of Malawi, the conference was held under the theme: “Renewing the Social Contract, Parliaments as Catalyst for Inclusive Growth and Citizen Trust.”
The international gathering was declared open by Rt. Hon. Sameer Sulaiman, Speaker of the Parliament of Malawi and current President of the CPA Africa Region.
Sulaiman described the African region as a critical pillar of the international CPA family, noting that the organisation has more than 63 member branches across Africa.
He said the annual conference provides an important platform for legislators from Commonwealth countries in Africa to exchange ideas, share experiences and develop practical responses to emerging challenges confronting the continent.
Experts, Legislators Discuss Good Governance
The conference featured goodwill messages, expert presentations and deliberations on issues connected to the theme and mandates of the CPA Africa Region.
Among the notable presenters was Stephen Twigg, Secretary-General of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association, who delivered an extensive presentation on issues affecting parliamentary governance and development.
A representative of the United Nations Debt Programme also contributed to discussions on contemporary economic and governance challenges facing African countries.
Speakers at the conference stressed the need for stronger collaboration and solidarity among African countries to combat corruption, strengthen democracy and improve governance through effective oversight and institutional efficiency.
They also discussed the need to renew the social contract between governments and citizens, while promoting good governance, climate action, justice and inclusive development.
Jatau Makes Contributions at Conference
The Speaker of the Nasarawa State House of Assembly, Dr. Danladi Jatau, who is an active member of the CPA Budget Committee, participated in the conference’s activities and made contributions to deliberations on key legislative and governance issues.
Jatau reaffirmed the commitment of the Nasarawa State Legislature to applying the knowledge and experience gained from the international conference to improve legislative practice and governance in Nasarawa State.
He said lessons from the conference would be shared with other lawmakers and relevant stakeholders in the state to strengthen effective legislation, oversight and citizen-focused governance.
The Speaker also contributed to discussions on emerging national and international issues, including concerns surrounding the experiences of Nigerian citizens in South Africa and other global challenges.
AI, Digital Government, Youth and Women Take Centre Stage
The conference also considered a wide range of issues affecting governance and development across the Commonwealth.
Deliberations and resolutions covered governance, peace and security, artificial intelligence, innovation, digital government, youth development, women empowerment and social inclusion.
Participants examined how parliaments could respond to emerging technological changes while ensuring that citizens remain at the centre of public policy and legislative decisions.
The discussions further highlighted the importance of effective parliamentary oversight, inclusive governance and stronger institutions in building public trust.
Over 300 Delegates Attend Malawi Conference
The conference brought together legislators and parliamentary leaders from across the CPA Africa Region.
It was gathered that about 13 Speakers of national parliaments, Speakers from sub-national legislatures and more than 300 delegates from CPA member countries participated in the Malawi conference.
The participation of the Nasarawa State lawmakers in the regional gathering is expected to provide additional exposure and legislative knowledge that could strengthen the capacity of the state’s legislature in areas including lawmaking, budgeting, oversight, digital governance and citizen engagement.
The conference ended with renewed calls for stronger parliamentary collaboration and practical approaches to building inclusive societies, restoring citizen confidence and promoting good governance across Africa.