Insecurity as a Challenge in Nigeria

INSECURITY AS A CHALLENGE IN NIGERIA – THE BANE OF REALIZING THE 2030 AGENDA FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT: ISSUES AND PANACEA FOR DEVELOPMENT, BEING A KEY NOTE ADDRESS BY DAVID TOLA WINJOBI (PHD) NATIONAL COORDINATOR, CIVIL SOCIETY COALITION ON SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT PRESENTED AT AN UNOFFICIAL SIDE EVENT AT THE VNR/HLF 2021 WEBINAR ON TUESDAY 13TH JULY 2021



Report CPDE National Campaigns against Shrinking Civic Space

IN THE PRESS: SHRINKING CIVIC SPACE IN NIGERIA




CSCSD Membership of the Leadership of Civil Society Strategy Group

Between Monday 27 and Tuesday 28, January 2020, there was a Civil Society Retreat organized by the OSSAP-SDGs at Reiz Continental Hotel Abuja. Apart from paper presentations, there was an election that ushered in the new leadership of Civil Society Strategy Group on SDGs in Nigeria.

It should be recalled that the first Civil Society Strategy Group on SDGs was organized under the auspices of OSIWA in November 2015 supported by Action Campaign but there has been some lull in the activities of that pioneer body till civil society clamoured for a resuscitation of that group or out rightly having a new one. Thus OSSAP spearheaded this current one and did the inauguration on Tuesday 28 of January 2020. We do hope for its sustainability.

Meanwhile, Civil Society Coalition on Sustainable Development (www.cscsdev.org) the foremost and largest coalition working on SDGs in Nigeria participated actively in this programme including the election. I am happy to inform us that out of the 9-person committee to lead the SDGs process in this Decade of Action in collaboration with the government, four are members of the CSCSD. They include:

  • Dr Uzodinma Adirieje – Southeast Coordinator of CSCSD
  • Dr Margaret Mina Ogbanga – Southsouth Coordinator
  • Mr David Obinna Anyaele – member, Board of Trustee
  • Dr David Tola Winjobi – the National Coordinator

Incidentally, Dr Uzodinma Adirieje is the Chair of the body while Mrs Mina Ogbanga is the 2nd Deputy Chair while others are members. On behalf of the BoT, NSC and entire members of CSCSD, I congratulate all the four members and wish them a successful tenure of office. We believe they are going to use their wealth of experience in playing their advisory role to the Nigerian government and supporting the Global Decade of Action in accelerating the attainment of SDGs before 2030.

It should also go without saying that CSCSD has been appointed among the Core Working Group that would facilitate the Nigerian report on Voluntary National Review/HLPF. This position, I believe, does not preclude CSCSD from coming up with its own shadow report if deemed necessary, before July HLPF in New York.

Congrats to all members of CSCSD!!!





CAFSO-WRAG For Development Decries the Shrinking and Closed Spaces in Nigeria in Commemoration of the International Human Rights Day December 10, 2019

10th December 2019, Ibadan, Nigeria – CAFSO-WRAG for Development in partnership with the CSO Partnership for Development Effectiveness (CPDE) is organising a series of events tackling the shrinking civic space to commemorate the International Human Rights Day in Nigeria as part of multiple actions marking the CPDE Global Day of Action 2019.

The event titled, “the imperative of enabling environment for civil society shrinking space in Nigeria”, aimed to advocate for the reversal of shrinking spaces for civil society and the promotion of CSO enabling environment in Nigeria. Its specific objectives include:

  • To create awareness on the shrinking space for CSOs so as for government to reverse the trend.
  • To popularise CSO’s role as vital, independent development actors in their own right, and partners for development according to Belgrade Call Action and AAAA.
  • To bring to governments’ understanding that the realization of 2030 Agenda is in participatory and human rights approach involving the civil society and the media.
  • To present before government-specific asks bothering on the release of civil rights actors and retracting the social media bill before the House of Assembly.

Dr Tola Winjobi, the African Representative of CPDE who is also the Principal Coordinator of CAFSO-WRAG for Development explains that the action is important in view of incessant attacks and threats against the press and the civil society that may impede the realisation of the 2030 Agenda.

Dr Winjobi laments the obvious human rights abuses especially being perpetrated by the state. There is much impunity and violation of the rule of law as governments are adamant to court rulings against them. Many political prisoners like Sambo Dasuki, and Ibrahim El-Zakisaky and some journalists including Agba Jalingo, Omoyele Sowore publisher of Sahara Reporters, and Olawale Bakare are kept behind bars despite court injunction to release them on bail. A brazen disrespect for human rights and desecration of the temple of justice was the Gestapo-like re-arrest of Omoyele Sowore in the premises of the Federal High Court by the operatives of the State Security Service (SSS) on Friday, December 6, 2019. This arrant display of barbarism, brutality, gangsterism, hooliganism, and impunity by the SSS is a reflection of horrendous experience by civil society on a daily basis in Nigeria. Some of these anomalies go unnoticed and unreported some of the time which is why the impunity persists.

Press freedom is being curtailed gradually as some of the time, media houses are shut with impunity on frivolous allegation of publishing inciting materials and falsehood. Commonplace from 2014 to date are clampdowns on the Nigerian press, from the outright closure of media houses, to the seizure of large numbers of newspapers seen as anti-establishment and the confiscation of thousands of copies of several newspapers.

There have been obnoxious actions and policies including draconian bills targeted at civil society by Nigerian government in order to stifle the former. Some of these actions required mandatory registration with difficult requirements for CSO operations; regulatory restrictions and nebulous legislation including hate speech attracting death penalty; measures banning public demonstrations and processions except for the Nigerian state; poor and limited spaces available for CSO participation; and lack of technical and financial support for CSOs effective engagement and operations coupled with donor’s fatigue. On top of these draconian policies targeted at civil society is the financial bill requiring mandatory presentation of Tax Identification Number (TIN) by any individual operating a bank account in Nigeria as from January 2, 2020. Not mindful of government’s failure to provide social services for the people, the bill is no respecter of indigent women, poor widows, pauperized pensioners, pensionless senior citizens, petty business people, artisans, unemployed youth including fresh graduates who keep the stipends they have in banks for security reasons. One wonders where an unemployed person, for example, would get money to pay tax when the government has even failed to provide jobs and services for the people upon which taxes are imposed.

Dr Winjobi also cries out that not only Nigeria’s fledgling democracy is being threatened, but the attainment of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is also being jeopardised in Nigeria through the action of governments. Upholding human rights is core to development; and human rights-based approach (HRBA) is a fundamental principle for development effectiveness. It represents a paradigm shift crucial in achieving the
SDGs as it affirms the agency of the poor and marginalized people to chart their own destiny by empowering them as rights-holders instead of mere beneficiaries of charity. The maginalised are so pauperised to the extent that they could not discern their rights let alone stand for them. Thus they are being left behind. Real and transformative progress in achieving core SDGs – including eradicating poverty (SDG1), eliminating hunger (SDG2), addressing gender and all forms of discrimination (SDG5) reducing inequalities (SDG10), promoting decent work and sustainable livelihoods for all (SDG8) – will not be possible without a fully engaged civil society and population. The strengths of civil society are its diversity, its rootedness in communities and territories, its direct development experience, and its capacity for public engagement.

Tola charges the civic leaders to demand from governments a robust civic space for democratic participation, end the persecution of human rights defenders including political prisoners, promote access to governance and opportunities for development, and actualise commitment to inclusive participation in realising the SDGs.

Reflecting the Belgrade Call to Action 2019, Tola calls on governments:

  • To take concrete steps to protect and enable space for civil society, including enabling laws and regulations, democratic accountability based on human rights norms and human rights standards, and the full protection of civil society under attack – such as social leaders, human rights defenders and gender equality activists.
  • To repeal and halt all obnoxious laws, policies, and bills stifling operations of civil society and the press including social media bill that metes out death penalty on the violator reminiscent of the repressive Decree No 4 of 1984.
  • To implement and respect democratic country ownership of national development plans, imbibe open governance partnership, and implement transparency and accountability for inclusive SDG delivery.
  • To recognize the importance of the inter-connected themes in achieving Agenda 2030 — civil society voice, eradicating poverty, women’s empowerment, fighting inequality, decent work, climate action and environmental justice.
  • To uphold the rule of law, shun impunity and respect human rights by releasing unconditionally all the political prisoners and prisoners of conscience including the activists and journalists like Agba Jalingo, Omoyele Sowore, Olawale Bakare, kept behind bars despite court injunction to release them on bail.

CAFSO-WRAG for Development is a humanitarian, human rights, not for profit, and non-governmental organization established in 1994 in Ibadan, Nigeria. Its main task is to challenge the structures and institutions that perpetuate poverty, hunger and preventable diseases, and campaign for the fulfillment of all socio-economic and human rights for sustainable human and ecological development. For more information visit www.cafsowrag4development.org

CPDE is an open global platform that unites CSOs from around the world on the issue of effective development cooperation. It strives to make development more effective by reshaping the global aid architecture and empowering CSOs working on the ground. To know more, visit csopartnership.org.


Imperative of Enabling Environment for Civil Society Shrinking Space in Nigeria

A PRESS STATEMENT BY DR TOLA WINJOBI THE PRINCIPAL COORDINATOR, CAFSO-WRAG FOR DEVELOPMENT AND THE AFRICAN REPRESENTATIVE, CIVIL SOCIETY PARTNERSHIP FOR DEVELOPMENT EFFECTIVENESS AS PART OF THE ACTIVITIES OF CPDE GLOBAL DAY OF ACTION IN COMMEMORATION OF THE INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS DAY 10TH DECEMBER 2019 IN IBADAN NIGERIA, WEST AFRICA

CAFSO-WRAG for Development is a humanitarian, not for profit, and non-governmental organization established in 1994 in Ibadan, Nigeria. Its main task is to challenge the structures and institutions that perpetuate poverty, hunger and preventable diseases, and campaign for the fulfillment of all socio-economic and human rights for sustainable human and ecological development. It is deploying a series of activities including a press conference, roundtable discourse, social media action to tackle the issue of the shrinking civic space to commemorate International Human Rights Day in Nigeria.

The general objective is to advocate for the reversal of shrinking spaces for civil society and the promotion of CSO enabling environment in Nigeria. Specific Objectives include:

  • To create awareness on the shrinking space for CSOs so as for the government to reverse the trend.
  • To popularise CSO role as vital, independent development actors in their own right, and partners for development according to Belgrade Call Action and AAAA.
  • To bring to governments’ understanding that the realization of 2030 Agenda is in a participatory and human rights approach involving the civil society.
  • To present before government-specific asks bothering on the release of civil rights actors and retracting the social media bill before the House of Assembly.

According to the Belgrade Call to Action (2019), over six billion people are living in countries where there are serious constraints on civic space: the conditions are closed for civil society in 23 countries; civil society is highly repressed in 35 countries while civil society faces substantial legal and political obstacles in 53 countries. Civic actors across many sectors are being threatened and persecuted – including those supporting and representing rural communities, indigenous peoples, journalists, trade unions, women’s rights activists, LGBTQ activists, youth, people living with disabilities, and environmentalists. Harassment through arbitrary arrest, detention, targeted use of legal and regulatory measures, and restrictions on finances have become common experiences among civil society organisations (CSOs) in many countries. Deliberate discreditation as criminals, physical harm, and sexual harassment and abuse of women human rights defenders are commonplace. All these happen because the advocacy for peoples’ human rights and promotion of democratic participation are deemed by repressive states as dissent and, therefore, not to be tolerated.

In Nigeria, human rights abuses are common especially as being perpetrated by the state. There is much impunity and violation of the rule of law as governments are adamant to court rulings against them. Many political prisoners like Sambo Dasuki, and Ibrahim El-Zakisaky and some journalists including Agba Jalingo, are kept behind bars despite court injunction to release them on bail while Omoyele Sowore publisher of Sahara Reporters and Olawale Bakare were barely released Thursday, December 5, 2019, being detained since August 2019. Press freedom is being curtailed gradually as some of the time, media houses are shut with impunity on frivolous allegation of publishing inciting materials and falsehood. Commonplace from 2014 to date are clampdowns on the Nigerian press, from the outright closure of media houses to the seizure of large numbers of newspapers seen as anti-establishment and the confiscation of thousands of copies of several newspapers, most notably the Daily Trust, and Leadership, including the sealing of their distribution points in several major towns across the country by soldiers (Bayo Oladeji November 13, 2014).

There have been obnoxious actions and policies including bills targeted at civil society by the Nigerian government in order to stifle the former. Some of these actions required mandatory registration with difficult requirements for CSO operations; regulatory restrictions and nebulous legislation including hate speech attracting death penalty; measures banning public demonstrations and processions except for the Nigerian state; poor and limited spaces available for CSO participation; and lack of technical and financial support for CSOs effective engagement and operations coupled with donor’s fatigue. On top of these draconian policies targeted at civil society is the financial bill requiring mandatory presentation of Tax Identification Number (TIN) by any individual operating a bank account in Nigeria as from January 1, 2020. Not mindful of government’s failure to provide social services for the people, the bill is no respecter of indigent women, poor widows, pauperized pensioners, pensionless senior citizens, petty business people, artisans, unemployed youth including fresh graduates who keep the stipends they have in banks for security reasons. One wonders where an unemployed person, for example, would get money to pay tax when the government has even failed to provide jobs and services for the people upon which taxes are imposed.

Alas, not only Nigeria’s fledgling democracy is being threatened, but the attainment of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is also being jeopardized in Nigeria through the action of governments. Upholding human rights is core to development, and the human rights-based approach (HRBA) is a fundamental principle for development effectiveness. It represents a paradigm shift crucial in achieving the SDGs as it affirms the agency of the poor and marginalized people to chart their own destiny by empowering them as rights-holders instead of mere beneficiaries of charity. The marginalised are so pauperised to the extent that they could not discern their rights let alone to stand for them. Thus they are being left behind. Real and transformative progress in achieving core SDGs – including eradicating poverty (SDG1), eliminating hunger (SDG2), addressing gender and all forms of discrimination (SDG5) reducing inequalities (SDG10), promoting decent work and sustainable livelihoods for all (SDG8) – will not be possible without a fully engaged civil society and population. The strengths of civil society are its diversity, its rootedness in communities and territories, its direct development experience, and its capacity for public engagement.

Despite promises of action by many United Nations Member States to “reverse the trend of shrinking civic space wherever it is taking place,” (Nairobi Outcome Document, GPEDC) attacks on CSOs, social leaders and human rights defenders, and the deterioration of enabling the environment for CSOs (GPEDC 2019:8) continue unabated.

CSO representatives, development workers, activists, and campaigners from all over the world gathered in Belgrade, Serbia on 8-11 April 2019 for the Civil Society Summit as part of International Civil Society Week. Foremost at the Summit is the adoption of the Belgrade Call to Action, which asks UN Member States to act to reverse the closing and shrinking space for civil society, to stop the attacks on human rights defenders and the undermining of democratic participation, and to renew the prospects for an inclusive Agenda 2030 and the full realisation of the SDGs. CSO leaders from across the world amplified our messages before the UN High-Level Political Forum in July and the UN Special Session in September 2019.

As civic leaders we demand a robust civic space for democratic participation, ending the persecution of human rights defenders, promotion of access to governance and opportunities for development, and actualise commitment to inclusive participation in realising the SDGs.

We call on governments:

  • To take concrete steps to protect and enable space for civil society, including enabling laws and regulations, democratic accountability based on human rights norms and human rights standards, and the full protection of civil society under attack – such as social leaders, human rights defenders and gender equality activists.
  • To repeal and halt all obnoxious laws, policies, and bills stifling operations of civil society including social media bill that metes out death penalty on the violator.
  • To implement and respect democratic country ownership of national development plans and implements transparency and accountability for inclusive SDG delivery.
  • To recognize the importance of the interconnected themes in achieving Agenda 2030 — civil society voice, eradicating poverty, women’s empowerment, fighting inequality, decent work, climate action and environmental justice.
  • To uphold the rule of law, shun impunity and respect human rights by releasing unconditionally all the political prisoners and prisoners of conscience including the activists and journalists like Agba Jalingo, kept behind bars despite court injunction to release them on bail.

Today 10 December 2019 CPDE in partnership with her partners across the globe is launching a Global Day of Action against Shrinking Civic Spaces in commemoration of International Human Rights Day. CAFSO-WRAG for Development is participating actively in this initiative by deploying multiple strategies to tackle the menace. We have held a series of consultations with stakeholders. We organized campaign action on social media. We held a press conference while we also made press statements. This roundtable discourse aims at bringing to the front burner the dimensions of shrinking space for civil society in Nigeria coupled with human rights violation, impunity and lack of respect for the rule of law by the Nigerian authorities. We hope there would be useful suggestions to stem the tide while we are hopeful that government would reverse the trend of the repressive shrinking space by retracting the social media bill with the understanding that the realisation of the 2030 Agenda is hinged on freedom of speech, respect for human rights, and upholding the rule of law.

I wish you all successful deliberations.

Thank you. D. Tola Winjobi (PhD)
African Representative, CPDE


CSCSD Work Around SDG 16

Reinforcing the assertion that SDG16 underpins the entire 2030 Agenda and that SDG16 is linked with all other SDGs, CSCSD collaborates with other development actors and organizations in engaging on issues around Goal 16 of the SDGs which is to “promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels.”

Our member organizations are poised to think globally but act locally especially on the need to have a more transparent and accountable government which is germane to ‘an honest and responsive government’ as one of the top priorities in the My World survey. Our overall objective is to support, contribute and strengthen the capacity of civil society and other SDGs stakeholders to work on issues of transparency, accountability, and participation in the implementation of the 2030 Agenda and integration of 2063 Agenda with a particular focus on SDG 16 which underpins the entirety of the 17 SDGs.

The video below talks more about what we do around SDG16

We work on the following issues, among others:

  • Building the capacity of our members on the issue of Freedom of Information Act 2011.
  • Creating awareness on gender-based violence, torture of children and female genital mutilation, and against related death rates.
  • Sensitization and capacity building on human trafficking and smuggling of persons.
  • Campaigning against impunity and decrying shrinking civic space for civil society.
  • Collaborating with anti-corruption agencies to campaign against corruption and bribery in both government and civil spaces.
  • Engaging the state actors on transparency and accountability for good governance.
  • Clamouring for all-inclusive non-discriminatory policy making at all levels for the benefit of the marginalised, the poor and the voiceless.
  • Training of our members on the thrust of SDG16 on access to justice for all and promoting peaceful and inclusive Nigerian society.

Minutes of Meeting of the CSCSD Stakeholders on SDGs

Minutes of Meeting of the CSCSD stakeholders on SDGs held on Friday, April 12, 2019, at Maria Ebun Foundation building CAFSO-WRAG for Development office, Atanda Estate of KLM 5 Ibadan-Ife Expressway, Adegbayi Area, Ibadan, Nigeria.
Agenda
  1. Opening Prayer
  2. Welcome Address by the National Coordinator
  3. Apologies
  4. Reports from across the country on SDGs implementation process
  5. SDG Journal/Conference
  6. Planning for SDG 4 Education Summit/DAWN Commission
  7. HLPF 2019 Processes: Preparation towards VNR HLPF (report Moji)
  8. TAP Network support for Workshop around SDG 16
  9. FOIACSCSD Matter: OGP/FOIA award for Kayode Fayemi
  10. Collaboration with Sustainable Support Forum (SSF) and SDSN 16-22 June ‘19
  11. Actionable Points
  12. AOB
  13. Lunch
  14. Adjournment/Closing prayer
Attendance
  1. Dr. Tola Winjobi – National Coordinator
  2. Pastor Peter Akosile – Ekiti State
  3. Martin-Mary Falana – Ekiti/Ondo State
  4. Mojisola Akinsanya – Ogun State
  5. Alo Martins – Ondo State
  6. Treasures Uchegbu – Lagos State
  7. AdebimpeAderounmu – Oyo State
  8. Salau Adekunle – Kwara State
  9. Funmi Akinyele PhD – Oyo State
  1. Opening Prayer: the meeting commenced 11.05am with an opening prayer by Pastor Akosile of PAAM ORG, Ekiti State.
  2. Welcome Address by the National Coordinator: Dr Tola Winjobi of CAFSO-WRAG for Development and also the National Coordinator of CSCSD welcomed the members. He stated that this is a pre-National stakeholder meeting to deliberate on very pressing development matter before bringing together everyone; he appreciated God for journey mercies for everyone and thanked the coalition for the birthday wishes, prayers, and encomium showered on him.
  3. Apologies
    1. Rev Fr. John Patrick – Chair, Board of Trustees
    2. Wasiu Adebiyi – Osun State Coordinator
    3. Dr. Ashimolowo – National Steering Committee member
    4. Mrs Bisi Mekwuye – BOT Member
    5. Pastor Nosegbe – Lagos Coordinator
  4. Reports from across the country on SDGs implementation process: Brief reports were elicited to enable members attending the HLPF to have robust CSCSD activity report at New York, it was unanimously agreed that a Google form be created to allow members to capture CSOs member reports, glean best global practice from such intervention as benchmark which can also be shared on the CSCSD media platforms. Martin-Mary Falana of Kids&Teens Resource Centre (Ekiti and Ondo respectively) took responsibility to create one. Reports provided by members present were as follows:
    • Ekiti State:
      1. Ending Violence Against Children Stakeholders meeting in Ekiti State attended by Government representatives across Health, Education, Women Affairs, Gender and Social Development, Information and Civil Society Organisation, Together plans were developed to create a safety net for all the children in Ekiti state. Law enforcement agencies cried over the “order from above” syndrome in handling cases of child sexual abuse.
      2. Beyond “Match Pasts” – CSOs have planned other interesting activities to mark this year’s National Children’s Day 2019
      3. Regular CSOs meeting in Ekiti State
    • Ondo State
      1. Agro-women initiative in Ondo state – a project of Life & Peace new Agricultural policy for the state. The program sort to assist women in agriculture access government loan as embedded in the state budget.
      2. CSOs follow-up meeting with Commissioner of Ministry of Economic, planning and Budget held March 15th, 2019 to discuss the issue of OGP which the Commissioner gave his word that he will discuss it with the Governor and revert in April 2019, promising that the government will sign on to OGP
      3. Children Hygiene And Sanitation Education (CHASE) Club among pupils in schools and children in communities implemented by Kids & Teens Resource Centre in collaboration with other CSOs in Ondo state. The government has approved the implementation of the project in all LGAs in the state.
      4. Adolescent Reproductive Health project with “PhotoVoice” Advocacy program by the Young People in Ondo state from four(4) public school. Young people now using pictures to conduct advocacy with policymakers
      5. CSOs on Kidney Alliance marked this year’s World Kidney Day with a 5 KLM walk, Counselling, and Testing
    • Lagos
      1. Advocacy and sensitization for the inclusion of persons with disabilities into the World Bank APPEALS (Agro-processing, Productivity Enhancement and Livelihood Improvement Support) Project by SpeakingFingers Network
      2. Participation and presentation of Mental Health Foundation (member and host of CSCSD Lagos monthly meetings) at the visit of the Presidential Advisory Committee on the Elimination of Drug and Substance Abuse organized by the Lagos State Interministerial Drug Abuse Control Committee, identified key pain point areas include an Elimination of Stigma, Miscellaneous drug and rehabilitation,
      3. Ongoing presentation and Disability Orientation to Corporate organization as recently conducted by SpeakingFingers Network at Cake ‘n’ Candys and at the 2019 HR Expo Africa
      4. CSCSD members were enjoined to mainstream issues of mental, emotional wellness (SDG 3) and inclusion of persons living with disabilities (SDGs 4, 8, 10, 11 and 17) into its thematic focus in the light of UN’s Leave No One Behind.
      5. Participation SpeakingFingers Network on the invitation of the United Nations Information Centre in commemoration of the UN International Day of Happiness – March 20th annually.
      6. Monthly CSOs meeting held
      7. The question was posed to Lagos on the constitution of the state of lobbying by CSOs as members of the just inaugurated Transition Committee in Lagos State?
    • Ogun State
      1. Presentation of the People’s Manifesto to 656 participants comprising of Artisans, State Actors, Religious Leaders, etc. at the Cultural Centre in lieu of meetings with the gubernatorial candidates, of which only three (3) attended. However the APC leader sent in apologies owing to the security issues during his electioneering period;
      2. An official meeting was scheduled and attended by 30 CSOs Networks at the Cultural Centre, a four (4) Hour Advocacy meeting with to the First Lady as facilitated by Honorable ?????, who was present at the International SDGs Conference held by CSCSD Ogun state. She welcomed different presentations were made from other intervention areas and CSCSD SDG activities as well as the intent to decorate her as SDG Champion like the outgoing First Lady. An official presentation of the copies of the People’s Manifesto and SDGs Law ensued, while she who pledge to use her good office to mobilize funds for the implementation of the SDGs and inauguration of a think-tank committee to provide technical advisory support to His Excellency the Governor.
      3. The House applauded the milestone, access, and audience of the Ogun state First Lady which is almost a far cry of what is obtainable in other climes where fees are solicited from women attendees at the International Women’s Day by the Office of the First Lady
  5. SDG Journal/Conference:
    1. Journal: this is aimed at documenting CSCSD members activities of unique development interest and practice beyond conference proceedings, it could include abstracts, activities and paper presentations of members for references – where theory meets practice, Mr Aderonmu shared a case study of a peasant farm that produces 15 liters of milk under normal climate condition in Nigeria, that has become a research centre for best practical studies because they were able to flag its activities to relevant development actors. He was charged by the House to get the buy-in support of DEPRA as part of the Editorial Team and report to the House
    2. Conference: the resolution from the House unanimously agreed
      1. to host a unified Three (3) Day CSCSD International Conference August 26th to 31st, the venue at Abeokuta,
      2. a Pre-Youth Conference on August 26th to be headed by the CSCSD South-South Youths;
      3. a National Planning Committee to constituted comprising of members of the CSCSD National Steering Committee (NSC), the NSC is also mandated to co-opt other international agencies of support relevance to be a part of the National Planning Committee;
      4. A Local Organising Committee (LOC) chaired by Moji Akinsanya, Martin-Mary volunteered as Secretary, and three members each from each Southwest states (preferably the Coordinator, an Executive, Youth and or Active Member; gender balance should also be considered in the selection/nomination process); Ogun state was allowed more slots so we can leverage the effectiveness of her previous planning team.
      5. The following are selected members by state
        1. Ogun State: Mojisola Akinsanya, Tola Adenekan, Femi Olusola, Pro Helen Bodunde, Tayo Akinpelu, JDPC Youth
        2. Ondo: Mrs Odedele Yinka (Coordinator), High Chief Akomolafe, Miss Becky Deinde O.
        3. Ekiti: Pastor Peter Akosile, Mr Temitayo Fabunmi, Barr Rita Ileubare, Mr Femi Timilehin
        4. Lagos: Pastor Victor Nosegbe, Treasures Uchegbu, CSCSD Exco
        5. Oyo: Dr Funmi Akinyele, Mr Obayemi Moses Babasola, Mr Michael Olatunbosun
        6. Osun: Adebiyi, Rev.Bolaji Ebenezer, Mr Ayo Okelana
      6. A talking point should begin on our existing CSCSD platform by Dr. Winjobi, while the LOC Chairperson – Moji Akinsanya should create a Whatsapp group to kick start the planning
  6. Planning for SDG 4 Education Summit/DAWN Commission: The SW CSCSD members decry the deplorable state of performance of its children/wards in education in recent reports, hence is advocating for the declaration of a state of emergency on education and a proposed to host a SW Education summit in collaboration with DAWN Commission so as to leverage its existing partnership with the SW governments for their buy-in support; it was also recommended that youths within the states should leverage social media highlight key issues of advocacy inclusive of the dilapidated youth friendly centres across the nation and solicit their involvement in developing and implementation of laudable youth based policies as sighted by the National Policy on SRHR presented by Mr Martin-Mary Falana. Dr.Funmi Akinyele was charged with discussing with DAWN Commission; a shadow report from a side event at our Proposed International Conference
  7. HLPF 2019 Processes: Preparation towards VNR HLPF (report Moji): the House lauded Moji Akinsanya for creating WhatsApp platform to educate and engage CSCSD members towards effective application to participation at the High-Level Political Forum (HLPF)/Voluntart National ReviewVNR in New York. She updated the house on the step by step process of Visa Application, securing appointment date, dispelled prevailing myths and misconception often peddled by agents like requesting participants to own huge back account balance amongst others, she also provided tips on securing travel history, likely pitfalls towards successful application, registration process on different UN platforms and most importantly how members of the Coalition can support one another while attending the HLPF.
  8. TAP Network support for Workshop around SDG 16: Dr Winjobi reported his appointment as one of the two African representatives on the TAP network, as a result, he has been able to secure Nigeria’s slot and participation for a 5,000 dollar grant project on SDG16; he had on behalf of CSCSD sent a concept note and it was resolved that a three (3) Man Committee comprising representatives from Oyo, Kwara and Lagos to look through the concept note; develop a realistic budget for the $5,000, and activities for a two (2) days training on SDG 16 in the month of May, which could be on transparency, accountability, democracy, human trafficking and or as the committee agrees, Mr Aderonmu to lead the process , a Whatsapp platform is created for engagement. Dr.Winjobi also announced an SDG Conference slated for May 27 to 29, 2019 in Rome, he enjoined CSCSD members to participate in the four(min) SDG16 storytelling challenge as well as visit the TAP Network website for value-added resources.
  9. FOIACSCSD Matter: OGP/FOIA award for Kayode Fayemi: Highlights of the interconnectivity of FOIA activities with CSCSD was shared by Dr. Winjobi, concerns were expressed on the prevailing challenges on the FOIA network which has stunted their performance, to re-strategize and resuscitate its activities, Mr Martin-Mary Falana was charged by the House to reach out to FOIA Network principal officers and revert, as CSCSCD seeks to award Gov. Kayode Fayemi for good governance by way of boosting him to sign into OGP. Moji Akinsanya in line with the aforementioned, informed the House of a preplanned meeting scheduled for Tues 16, April 2019 in lieu of decorating him as an SDG Champion, it was agreed that her team should leverage the visit to advocate for the OGP signing, invite as Keynote Speaker our upcoming International Conference and proposed SW Educational Summit.
  10. Collaboration with Sustainable Support Forum (SSF) and SDSN 16-22 June ’19: A letter addressed to our National Coordinator was presented to the House requesting CSCD members mobilization and free participation at a business trade and export fair organized by the Sustainable Support Forum by way of considering Development and Enterprise at Abuja June 16 to 22nd 2019. Members are free to bring products and services for sales exhibition stands. Dr Winjobi to request modalities for our participation and revert.
  11. Actionable Points
    1. Develop a Google form to capture members SDGs Activities – Martin-Mary
    2. Share soft copies of People’s manifesto and SDGs law to be circulated to CSCSD members for lobbying their Assembly- Moji Akinsanya
    3. Come up with a Journal to chronicle development practices in partnership with DEPRA – Adebimpe Aderounmu
    4. CSCSD Oyo state to engage DAWN Commission on Govt Participation at our proposed August International Conference in August and a possible SW Educational Summit to address the deplorable state of education in the SW region – Funmi Akinyele, PhD
    5. Create a talking point of our August International Conference on the CSCSD Groups– Dr Winjobi: Create a Whatsapp platform for LOC to discuss and engage on the implementation of the International Conference – Moji Akinsanya
    6. Members are enjoined to participate in the TAP Network SDG 16+ story telling challenge Dr. Winjobi to follow up on the contact at TVC on the write-up on behalf of CSCSD; he also enjoined members to look out on their website for more value-added resources
    7. Three Man Committee (Ibadan, Kwara, and Lagos) to look through the concept note submitted by Dr Winjobi to TAPnetwork to develop a realistic budget, and activities for a two (2) day training on SDG 16 in the month of May suggested discuss points could be on transparency, accountability, democracy, human trafficking or as the committee agrees – Mr Aderonmu
    8. Contact Officers of the FOIA Network to strategize and resuscitate activities – Martin-Mary Falana and Pastor Peter Akosile
    9. Visit to Gov. Fayemi in lieu of decorating him as SDGChampion which could be leveraged towards the advocacy towards signing into OGP for his state, inviting him as a Keynote Speaker at our proposed International Conference and SW Education summit – *Moji Akinsanya
    10. Mobilization of individual CSCSD state members to attend /participate at the Sustainable Support Forum Trade and Export Fair at Abuja June 16 to 22nd 2019* *Dr Winjobi* to request modalities for our participation
  12. AOB
    1. Memorial lecture in honor of Dr Funmi Akinyele’s father, Dr Adebukola, on the 2nd May
    2. Dr.Akinyele will also request that Nutrition be included as a discussion point at our upcoming International Conference in August.
  13. Lunch: Lunch was served courtesy of CAFSO-WRAG for Development office
  14. Adjournment/Closing prayer: a motion for adjournment was moved Dr.Tola Winjobi seconded by. Alo Martins Closing prayer by Salau Adekunle
  15. Members then proceeded for a group photograph

Treasures Uchegbu
Secretary, CSCSD Lagos
Reporting