A group of Nigerian civil society organizations recently paid an advocacy visit to the Social Action Organisation in Abuja. The coalition, comprising Hope After Cancer Diagnosis Foundation (HACDF), Bob MajiriOghene Media Initiative (BMMI-HUDEMI), the Civil Empowerment & Rule of Law Support Initiative (CERLSI), and Voice for Chibok Community (VFCC), sought support for capacity building and collaboration. The visit aimed to tap into Social Action's wealth of experience in the civic space.
The coalition was led by Bob Etemiku of BMMI-HUDEMI, who stated that the group recognized Social Action's intellectual and institutional capacity. Etemiku mentioned that the coalition aimed to pool resources to pursue their goals in the face of scarce resources and shrinking civil space. The group acknowledged Social Action as a strong civil society stakeholder in Nigeria and expressed interest in being guided and carried along in their journey.
Isaac Botti, Director of Social Action, welcomed the group and commended their coming together as a laudable gesture. Botti, a key stakeholder in the Nigerian civil space and coordinator of the Abuja chapter of the Tax Justice and Governance Platform, discussed critical areas with the cluster. These areas included preventive social change, social intervention programmes, economic empowerment, and psychosocial clinical support.
The delegation to Social Action's office in Abuja comprised several representatives, including Bob Etemiku, Happiness Emmanuel, Felix Ojo, Joy Adeyemi, and Rahama Abubakar. The meeting focused on exploring opportunities for collaboration and capacity building. Social Action's experience in the civic space is expected to benefit the coalition in their respective thematic areas of focus.
The coalition's visit to Social Action Organisation highlights the importance of collaboration among civil society organizations in Nigeria. By pooling resources and expertise, the group aims to effectively address issues related to cancer, human rights abuses, and freedom of expression. Social Action's support is expected to enhance the coalition's capacity to engage in advocacy and promote social change.
The advocacy visit demonstrates the commitment of the coalition to work together and leverage each other's strengths. The group's efforts to build capacity and collaborate with established organizations like Social Action Organisation are crucial in promoting a robust civic space in Nigeria. The outcome of the visit is expected to have a positive impact on the coalition's activities and advocacy efforts.
The meeting between the coalition and Social Action Organisation has significant implications for the future of civil society activism in Nigeria. By working together and sharing resources, organizations can amplify their impact and promote meaningful social change. The coalition's visit to Social Action Organisation marks an important step towards building a stronger, more effective civil society in Nigeria.
Key points
- The coalition seeks to build capacity and collaborate with Social Action Organisation to effectively address human rights abuses and promote social change in Nigeria.
