IANSD was formed in 1989 as the Council of Nigerian People and Organizations (CONPO) by a group of patriotic Nigerian intellectuals, professionals, and others across the USA. (IANSD) is a non-profit, independent and membership-driven forum for all those interested in the development of Nigeria in particular, and Africa in general, to meet annually to deliberate on a selected conference theme; publish some of their views in the association‘s International Journal of Nigerian Studies and Development (IJNSD); and, subscribe to any of the association’s projects to assist with modest causes in Nigeria, such as the “Adopt-a-University Project.” Information about IANSD and its activities is accessible on the web at www.iansdgroup.org. To date, IANSD has held two of its 20 annual conferences in Abuja, Nigeria.

The Association also hosts its Annual Conference. The Annual Conference is a forum that provides all interested Nigerians and non-Nigerians an opportunity to get together annually to deliberate constructively on thematic issues about different facets of Nigeria's development. The results of the conference include resolutions which are relayed to pertinent Nigerian authorities, and presentations, some of which are published in the International Journal of Nigerian Studies and Development.