The Second Bi-Weekly Meeting of the 2026 PLAC Legislative Internship Programme (LIP) brought together distinguished speakers who shared practical insights on leadership, public service, advocacy, and legislative impact, while providing interns with another valuable opportunity to engage, learn, and grow.

The meeting commenced with welcome remarks by Clement Nwankwo, Executive Director of Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre (PLAC), who reflected on how attending a week-long conference organised by the Nigerian Bar Association early in his career sparked his passion for human rights. He encouraged the interns to make the most of every opportunity to learn from experienced practitioners, ask thoughtful questions, and broaden their perspectives.

Delivering the first keynote presentation, Rt. Hon. Onofiok Luke, Former Speaker of the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly (2015–2019) and Former Member of the House of Representatives, spoke on the theme: “From Youth Leadership to Public Leadership: Lessons in Service, Representation and Legislative Impact.” He shared lessons from his leadership journey, highlighting the values of service, accountability, and purposeful representation.

The second keynote session featured Ms. Ene Obi, Executive Director of the Ene Obi Centre for Development and Former Convener of Situation Room Nigeria, who spoke on “From Advocacy to Impact: Lessons from the Frontlines of Gender and Electoral Justice.” Drawing from decades of advocacy, she challenged interns to remain committed to advancing democratic governance, gender equality, and electoral justice.

The meeting concluded with the election of principal officers for the cohort’s Model Legislative Assembly (MLA), moderated by Mr. Akwu Ogbadu. The positions contested included Speaker, Deputy Speaker, Majority and Minority Leadership, Chief Whip and Deputy Chief Whip, Minority Whip and Deputy Minority Whip, Clerk of the Assembly, and Sergeant-at-Arms.