Tinubu seeks stronger collaboration with CSOs for national development

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has called for stronger collaboration between the Federal Government and civil society organisations (CSOs), describing them as indispensable partners in achieving sustainable development and advancing the administration’s ‘Nigeria First’ agenda.

The President made the call while addressing participants at the Southern Civil Society Organisations Summit 2026, themed ‘Nigeria First’, through the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), George Akume.

Tinubu said civil society organisations have consistently demonstrated their relevance in national development through humanitarian interventions, public accountability, community mobilisation and policy advocacy.

According to him, the role of CSOs extends beyond criticising the government, stressing that genuine civic engagement reflects patriotism and a commitment to national progress.

He explained that the ‘Nigeria First’ philosophy does not advocate isolationism but rather prioritises the welfare of Nigerians in public policies, partnerships, and investments while promoting inclusive, climate-resilient and sustainable development.

The president noted that the summit aligns with the administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda and its eight presidential priority areas, which include economic reforms, national security, food security, infrastructure development, education, healthcare, industrialisation, digital transformation and improved governance.

Tinubu urged civil society groups to deepen collaboration with the government to promote food security through climate-smart agriculture, environmental conservation, flood preparedness, and the protection of wetlands and coastal ecosystems.

He also highlighted opportunities for youth and women in sectors such as renewable energy, aquaculture, the marine and blue economy, waste management and climate services, describing them as critical drivers of economic diversification and job creation.

On governance, Tinubu reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to constructive engagement with civil society, inviting organisations to strengthen budget monitoring, community-based oversight, data sharing and social accountability initiatives to improve public service delivery.

He further called for stronger collaboration in addressing climate-related health challenges, noting that flooding continues to increase the risks of diseases such as cholera and malaria.

According to the president, civil society organisations should now be regarded as co-architects of national development rather than adversaries of government.

Tinubu also announced plans to convene a National Civil Society Organisations Summit later in 2026 to institutionalise structured engagement between government and civic groups.

He urged civil society organisations to embrace self-regulation, ethical standards and sound governance to prevent infiltration by criminal elements and preserve public confidence in the sector.

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Earlier, the governor of Lagos State, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, welcomed delegates from across the country and described the summit’s theme as a timely call for national unity and patriotism.

He said Nigeria First should inspire citizens to place national interest above ethnic, religious and regional differences.

According to the governor, civil society remains the backbone of every thriving democracy by promoting transparency, accountability, and citizen participation in governance.

Sanwo-Olu acknowledged the significant contributions of civil society organisations to Nigeria’s democratic development over the past two decades through advocacy for electoral integrity, human rights, transparency and good governance.

While encouraging constructive criticism of the government, he advised civic organisations to ensure that advocacy remains factual, solution-driven and focused on strengthening democratic institutions.

The governor said the Lagos State Government has continued to institutionalise collaboration with civil society through public consultations, open budget processes, town hall meetings and stakeholder engagement across sectors including education, healthcare, environmental protection and public safety.

He stressed that government and civil society should be viewed as partners pursuing a common objective of improving citizens’ welfare, rather than adversaries working against one another.

Sanwo-Olu urged participants to use the summit to develop practical recommendations that would strengthen collaboration between governments and civil society organisations nationwide while investing in youth development and institutional reforms.

In his presentation, the Director-General of the Civil Society Organisations on Community Advancement and Humanitarian Empowerment Initiative (CSCHEI) and National Convener of the Civil Society Organisation Summit 2026, Kunle Yusuff, unveiled a strategic framework aimed at strengthening civil society participation in national development.

Yusuff said the initiative focuses on promoting cybersecurity, digital governance, institutional accountability, data protection and cross-sector collaboration.

He identified key priority areas to include national cybersecurity assessment, food security and sustainable agriculture partnerships, governance reforms, judicial support, strategic information management and digital infrastructure development.

According to him, the summit seeks to establish practical frameworks for monitoring development projects, strengthening institutional capacity, improving policy implementation and enhancing public accountability through technology-driven solutions.

He urged public institutions, the private sector and development partners to work closely with civil society organisations in implementing the strategic roadmap, expressing confidence that stronger collaboration would accelerate national development and institutional reforms.