A new memoir, “MNI versus MNIPR in NIPSS: Tackling Institutional Bullying,” by public relations strategist Yushau A. Shuaib, offers an unprecedented look inside Nigeria’s elite leadership academy, alleging a pervasive culture of bullying, public humiliation and psychological pressure during the Senior Executive Course (SEC 47) at the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), Kuru.

In Chapter Three titled “The Rules of Power” of the memoir, Shuaib recounts experiences that, he argues, illustrate how strict disciplinary practices at Nigeria’s foremost policy institute sometimes crossed the line into public humiliation for accomplished professionals.

Shuaib notes that the programme began on an inspiring note. The Director‑General of NIPSS, Professor Ayo Omotayo, outlined the ten‑month residential course as a platform for grooming senior policymakers through lectures, workshops, study tours, and rigorous research. Participants were also introduced to strict rules on punctuality, dress code, discipline, and academic integrity.

However, Shuaib writes that beneath the Institute’s emphasis on excellence was an atmosphere where distinguished professionals—including senior military officers, academics, lawyers, and technocrats—were occasionally subjected to unnecessary public reprimands over seemingly minor issues.

The memoir recounts several incidents that he says illustrate this pattern. In one episode, a respected female advocate delivered what Shuaib describes as an “elegant, thoughtful” presentation that drew applause from the hall. Instead of commendation, she was sharply rebuked for deviating from the “approved NIPSS style of presentation.”

“The correction was not instructional. It was humiliating,” he writes.

Another incident involved an internationally celebrated academic who was publicly shouted at for resting one hand in his pocket while speaking. A directing staff member barked a single word—“Pocketing!”—a command Shuaib says startled him.

The scholar quietly complied, later telling Shuaib: “It is their environment. Let them enjoy the deceptive glory of being the bosses who call the shots.”

According to the memoir, participants gradually stopped introducing themselves with their professional titles, fearing that visibility itself had become a liability. Shuaib recounts being reprimanded for introducing himself as “Yushau A. Shuaib, mnipr,” a standard professional designation in public relations.

The fallout led to a blanket rule: No participant was to use post‑nominal abbreviations again.

Shuaib argues that the pettiness of the rule revealed “fragile egos and an unsettling lack of emotional intelligence,” prompting him to withdraw from active participation in plenary sessions.

While civilian participants endured stern rebukes, Shuaib writes that military and security personnel faced even harsher scrutiny, often reprimanded publicly for harmless remarks or casual behaviour. He describes the tone as “condescending” and “strikingly devoid of emotional intelligence,” creating an atmosphere where caution replaced spontaneity and fear overshadowed intellectual engagement.

Despite NIPSS’ reputation as Nigeria’s premier leadership academy, Shuaib says the environment often felt infantilising. Rules shifted unpredictably—applause encouraged one day, discouraged the next. Participants were warned that three queries could end their programme. Even minor absences risked withdrawal.

The memoir paints NIPSS as a paradox: a prestigious institution for strategic national thinking, yet one where senior professionals were sometimes treated like schoolchildren. Many participants, he writes, chose silence not out of agreement but out of survival instinct: “The objective for many was simple: complete the programme, earn the coveted mni designation, and move on.”

Despite his criticisms, Shuaib acknowledges NIPSS as a respected institution with rigorous academic standards, comprehensive research requirements, and strict rules governing conduct, attendance, confidentiality, and scholarly integrity. Participants signed detailed undertakings covering discipline and academic ethics, while the Institute’s handbook and style manual emphasised professionalism and intellectual rigour.

Reflecting on the experience, Shuaib concludes that while NIPSS remains an elite platform for strategic national thinking, his time there revealed what he calls “another curriculum”—one centred on power dynamics, restraint, and institutional culture.

According to the memoir, participants learned not only from lectures and policy discussions but also from observing how authority was exercised and how colleagues preserved their dignity under pressure. Despite the harsh environment, Shuaib says the experience offered profound lessons in human dynamics—resilience, restraint, and the subtle expressions of power. (By PRNigeria)

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