In an effort to enunciate the role of key stakeholders, including lawmakers, government MDAs and regulators in translating policy to action, to strengthen the regulatory environment for civil society organizations to operate in the southwest, CSOs across the region have gathered for 2025 regional conference in Ibadan.
The Conference was also focused on introducing the CSO community to tools to facilitate compliance and establish a regional task force for coordination, thereby seeking to create a sustainable environment where CSOs can operate effectively, free from the regulatory constraints, highlighted in the 2024 iteration of the Conference.
The chairman of the Global Rights Governing Board, Professor Chidi Odinkalu, stated in his welcome speech that any functioning society must give its citizens a platform to voice their concerns about social injustices, something that civil society organizations constructively assist in achieving.
Professor Odinkalu who recognized the enormous contributions made by CSOs to Nigeria’s socioeconomic growth, said all parties involved are partners in improving the society for everyone, which is why cooperation is necessary.
He advised CSOs to be law abiding, but solicited for a legal framework that would support the growth of civil societies in the area.
Earlier, Senator Anthony Siyako Yaro, the Vice Chairman of the Senate Committee on Diaspora and NGOs, expressed gratitude for CSOs’ persistent efforts to improve the society in spite of difficult obstacles.
However, the senator stated that in order to conform to contemporary legislation and global best practices, it became imperative to fortify the regulatory environment.
Senator Yaro said he is confident Nigeria can establish a supportive atmosphere that will enable civil society organizations to flourish and produce significant outcomes.
Similarly, Chairman, Conference of Speakers of State Legislatures in Nigeria and Oyo state house of assembly, RT. Hon. Adebo Ogundoyin, represented by Hon. Abiodun Babalola pledged to support laws that would enable conducive environment for Civil Society organizations operate effectively in the state.
Also speaking, Oyo State Chief Judge, Justice Iyabo Yerima, represented by Hon Justice M.O Ishola said that the advocacy for clarifying Item 32 in 1999 constitution, whether through judicial interpretation or legislative action to move it to the Concurrent List, was a pursuit of legal certainty that the judiciary supports in principle.
In his remarks, Head of Cooperations, European Union Delegation to Nigeria and West Africa Mr. Massimo DE LUCA expressed confidence that the outcome of the conference would reflect on better performances of CSOs across Nigeria.
Contributing, the Co-Chair, Community of Practice on Civic Space Strengthening Dr. Abiola Akiyode-Afolabi called on government at all levels to see their operations as a concerted effort towards complementing government’s agenda at ensuring a safe, viable and conducive society.
Others stakeholders, including Professor Adekunle Adedeji, Mrs Toyin Ogedegbe, Mrs Omolara Balogun at different panel of discussions spoke on “Innovative Strategies for Navigating Shrinking Funding for CSOs in South-West States”; “Sustaining Partnership towards Legislative and Regulatory Action for Improved CSO Operations”
The conference Facilitated by European Union, Global Rights and Community Of Practice On Civil Space Strengthening has the theme as “Scaling Policy to Action – Strengthening the Regulatory Environment for Sustainable CSO Operations in the South West Region”
