The obstacles of development have no doubt impeded the Nigerian nation’s building. Academics have identified a number of these obstacles as inadequate leadership, poor followership, poor development strategies, a lack of capable and efficient government and bureaucracy, and a lack of focus on areas like infrastructure development, health care, education, and agriculture that will improve citizens’ quality of life, among others.
Whatever the case, Nigeria as a nation has suffered greatly and needs to be safe immediately. For instance, out of 191 countries, Nigeria is placed 163rd in the UN Human Development Index (HDI) for 2021. In 2021, Nigeria’s life expectancy is 52.7 years (compared to 64.38 years in South Africa, 72.22 years in Egypt, and 87.57 years in Japan). Nigeria has the biggest number of out-of-school children worldwide, 18.5 million, according to the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).
Whatever the case, Nigeria as a nation has suffered greatly and needs to be safe immediately. For instance, out of 191 countries, Nigeria is placed 163rd in the UN Human Development Index (HDI) for 2021. In 2021, Nigeria’s life expectancy is 52.7 years (compared to 64.38 years in South Africa, 72.22 years in Egypt, and 87.57 years in Japan). Nigeria has the biggest number of out-of-school children worldwide, 18.5 million, according to the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).
Poverty rate in Nigeria increased from 15 per cent in 1960 to 28.1 percent in 1980 to 69.2 percent in 1997 to about 40 percent currently hosting the largest number of poor people in the world.
It is instructive to note that by 2014, Nigeria ranked third in hosting the largest number of poor people in the world after India (first position) and China (second position). But by 2018, Nigeria was declared the world poverty capital with around 87 million people living in extreme poverty compared with India’s 73 million according to the World Poverty Clock.
Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) in Nigeria have historically contributed to promoting development through advocacy for social change, providing services especially to underserved groups, fostering participatory development and holding government to account, the founding executive director, African Centre for Leadership, Strategy & Development (Centre LSD), Otive Igbuzor, stated.
From grassroots organisations to large national organisations, CSOs contribute to various aspects of development in Nigeria including education, healthcare, governance, livelihood, rule of law, peace and conflict transformation, migration, human rights and environmental protection, among others, Igbuzor averred.
“It has been documented that CSOs in Nigeria have played key roles in humanitarian assistance; influencing policy towards more pro-people legislation; reshaping the attitudes of traditional and cultural practices; improving the public awareness of human rights; providing economic support for internally displaced persons and communities.
“In addition, CSOs contributed to the attainment of independence and campaigning against military rule that led to transition to civil rule in 1999. Moreover, CSOs in Nigeria are also an important provider of employment opportunities.
“Need to say that CSOs in Nigeria contribute to harmony and stability in society by addressing normative issues that government and private sectors have neglected such as human rights, gender equality and women empowerment, social inclusion, credible, free and fair elections, vote buying, conservation, persons with disability, etc,” he posited.
In 2019, the Agents for Citizen-driven Transformation (ACT) Programme started working with and supporting CSOs, networks and coalitions in Nigeria to strengthen their internal, external and programmatic capabilities.
The ACT programme’s, which ran for five years (2019 to 2024), aim was to build the organisational and operational capacities of over 200 Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) and networks to be credible and effective drivers of change for sustainable development in Nigeria.
Implemented by the British Council, the EU-funded programme covered 10 states selected across six geopolitical zones, including Adamawa, Borno, Edo, Enugu, FCT, Kano, Lagos, Plateau, Rivers, and Sokoto.
The head of cooperation, EU Delegation to Nigeria, Massimo De Luca, at the ACT Programme closure in Abuja, stated that over €30 million was doled out to fund the ACT programme, adding that the programme, asides from supporting the development of a self-regulatory framework for CSOs, aimed to be at the forefront of advocacy efforts to ensure that the operational environment remains favourable for civil society operations.
As the programme comes to an end, about 15 toolkits were developed to help CSOs become effective drivers of change. These toolkits include advocacy strategy, risk assessment and management, developing conflict of interest policy, effective governance, fundraising strategy, and gender and social inclusion. Others are legal entity and constitution, logframe development, management and leadership roles, project cycle management, proposal writing, safeguarding policy, and strategic planning.
De Luca revealed that about 151 grants have been given to CSOs. From 2020 to date, ACT Programme has engaged the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Economic and Fiscal Crimes Commission (EFCC) to mention a few, and supported dialogues between federal and state government agencies and the civil society sector, he added.
“On Friday 15th and Saturday 16th March, the ACT Progamme provided training to Senators and members of the Federal House of Representatives to enable them to better understand the civil society sector and sustain collaboration with the sector. Through efforts spearheaded by the ACT programme, the 10th National Assembly (NASS) has committed to re-establishing the CSO liaison desk within the National Assembly to aid engagement between the NASS and CSOs,” De Luca revealed.
Credit: Leadership
