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Civil society actors have said the best way to advance democracy in Nigeria is through collaboration among citizens and Civil Society Organizations (CSOs).
This call was made during an X-Spaces discussion held on Jan. 22, 2024, to commemorate of Martin Luther King Jr. (MLK) Day.
The event, organised by the Private Sector Development for Democracy Forum in collaboration with the American Business Council Nigeria and the Center for International Private Enterprise (CIPE), centred on the theme, “Advancing Civic Rights and Strengthening Democracy.”
Speakers from three prominent non-profits highlighted the significance of collective action, drawing parallels between MLK’s fight for civil rights in the United States and Nigeria’s struggle against oppressive military regimes.
Amina Miango, Project Manager at the Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID), stressed the importance of education in empowering citizens to understand their rights and responsibilities.
“Communities should be mobilised on the issue of human rights. The foundation is education, which equips individuals with knowledge of their responsibilities as citizens. Our traditional institutions are also critical in mobilising these efforts,” she said.
Ms Miango noted that the US and Nigeria have faced similar challenges in fighting oppressive systems. While MLK championed the inclusion of Black people in the U.S., Nigerians fought against military oppression. Both movements were driven by youth and utilised non-violent methods to achieve reforms.
Omolara Balogun, Head of the Policy Influencing and Advocacy Unit at the West Africa Civil Society Institute (WACSI), highlighted the need for institutional reforms and inclusivity as pillars of a stable democracy.
“A stable democracy is inclusive and recognises different segments of society. We are making progress, but more needs to be done. Without reforming institutional structures, we won’t see results,” Ms Balogun stated.
She also emphasised the importance of building the political capacity of Nigerian youth and asked CSOs to leverage their large population to foster strong democratic foundations. Ms Balogun encouraged civil societies to drop their differences and work towards a better democracy in Nigeria.
“Civic groups are becoming aligned to their biases, and all these differences and antics of division should be worked out. Without working together to pursue a common goal, it would be difficult to achieve the democracy we desire to see,” she said.
Olusegun Onigbinde, Budgit’s Global Director, also highlighted the central role of mobilisation in achieving sustainable democratic progress.
“Mobilisation is a central thing. Even in the U.S., Martin Luther King didn’t work in silos. He collaborated with various groups led by different leaders to achieve his goals in the democratic space,” Mr Onigbinde remarked.
The speakers collectively urged Nigerians to prioritise justice, equality, and accountability while calling on the government to support CSOs’ efforts. They concluded that achieving the desired democratic outcomes would remain elusive without collective action and a shared vision among the citizens and CSOs.
About Martin Luther King Jr. Day
Martin Luther King Jr Day is a US holiday celebrated every third Monday in January. The holiday was established in 1983 to honour MLK, a civil rights leader who fought for racial equality through nonviolent means. It is considered a day to reflect on Dr King’s principles of justice and equality. Most people mark it through community services, marches, and educational programmes.
