The Nigerian Institute of Social and Economic Research (NISER) is a public research institute located in Ibadan. The centre is one of the foremost publicly funded think tanks in the country.
Prior to NISER, colonial authorities established the West African Institute of Social and Economic Research. The centre was founded in 1950 and headquartered in Ibadan with a mission to provide information on economic and social ideas that will be pivotal to the development of British West African countries. The institute was affiliated with University of Ibadan and was publicly funded. In 1957, Ghana obtained political independence and opted out of the institute. After Nigeria gained independence in 1960, the name of the institute was changed to Nigerian Institute of Social and Economic Research.
In 1977, the military government made NISER an autonomous body. Thereafter, NISER’s responsibilities include coordinating social and economic research in federal universities. The institute also carries out independent research on social and economic issues, and provide consultative service to the government based on research findings.
History of NISER
The Federal Government established the Nigerian Institute of Social and Economic Research (NISER) in 1960 and domiciled it in the University of Ibadan, Ibadan. This followed the dissolution of the West African Institute of Social and Economic Research (WAISER), which the colonial government established in 1950 to serve as a Think Tank in the field of social and economic development for the then British West Africa territory. In 1977, the Federal Government detached the Institute from the University of Ibadan and made it autonomous via NISER Act No. 70 of 1977 (now Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2006 CAP 115). In 1987, NISER moved out of the University of Ibadan to its headquarters at Ojoo, Ibadan and was placed under the Presidency. In 2006, the Federal Government merged the National Manpower Board (NMB) with NISER and placed the Institute under the National Planning Commission (NPC).
Our Mission: To consistently generate credible knowledge through quality research, conduct specialized training and consultancy services while interacting with relevant segments of the Nigerian society in the task of national development
Our vision: To be a world class think tank in the area of social and economic policy research
Our Mandate
Section 4 of the Nigerian Institute of Social and Economic Research (NISER) Act of 1977 [NISER Act, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2006 CAP 115] empowers the Institute to:
- Conduct research into the economic and social problems of the country with a view to the application of the results thereof;
- Provide consultancy services to Federal and State Governments, their agencies and other organisations, in the field of economic and social development;
- Organise seminars and conferences on problems of economic and social development in the country, whether on its own accounts or on behalf of the governments of Nigeria or their agencies; and
- Cooperate with Nigerian universities, research institutes and other institutions in the mobilization of the country’s research potential for the task of national development and dissemination of research findings for the use of policymakers at all levels.
For more info. Visit www.niser.gov.ng
