By Chesa Chesa
Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) and community-based groups under the umbrella of the Civil Society Council for Human and Economic Intervention (CSCHEI) have adopted “Nigeria First” as their guiding ideology and unveiled a 15-point resolution designed to advance national unity, security, economic growth and inclusive governance.
The resolutions were announced in Abuja Tuesday by the Director-General of CSCHEI, Kunle Yusuff, following the Southern Civil Society Organisations Summit held in Lagos on July 8, 2026, with the theme, “Nigeria First.”
Presenting the summit communiqué, Yusuff said the coalition had resolved to redefine the role of civil society by promoting constructive engagement with government while placing national interest above sectional considerations.
“We adopt ‘Nigeria First’ as our guiding ideology. We pledge to reposition civil society from confrontation to collaboration, to prioritise national interest above sectional interests, and to serve as a bridge between government and the people for sustainable national development,” he said.
The coalition also pledged to foster peace, tolerance and national cohesion by rejecting hate speech, divisive rhetoric and actions capable of undermining the country’s unity.
“We commit to promoting peace, tolerance and national unity across the Southern States and Nigeria at large by rejecting hate speech, divisive narratives and actions that undermine nationhood,” Yusuff stated.
On security, the summit called for stronger institutions to combat insecurity and improve justice delivery through increased funding and capacity for the judiciary, intelligence community and security agencies.
“We call for the strengthening and adequate resourcing of the judiciary, intelligence and security agencies to ensure proactive crime prevention, justice delivery and protection of lives and property,” he said.
The coalition urged governments at all levels to prioritise sustainable agriculture by supporting smallholder farmers and implementing policies that guarantee food security and affordable food for Nigerians.
It also resolved to align civil society initiatives with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 2030 Agenda, working with federal and state Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to monitor, evaluate and accelerate progress on all 17 SDGs at the grassroots.
On climate change, the organisations advocated increased investment in climate adaptation, renewable energy and community-based environmental initiatives, while calling for transparent access to global climate financing for local communities.
The summit further recommended the institutionalisation of an open budgeting system that promotes citizen participation, transparency in public expenditure and value for money in project implementation.
Reaffirming its commitment to democratic governance, the coalition stressed that inclusive governance, respect for the rule of law and judicial independence remain essential for sustainable democracy and national development.
It also proposed the establishment of a formal partnership framework between government and civil society to improve service delivery and ensure development interventions reach underserved communities.
To strengthen democracy, the organisations resolved to intensify efforts against misinformation by countering fake news and expanding voter education and civic engagement programmes.
On youth empowerment, the coalition called on governments and development partners to increase investments in skills acquisition, entrepreneurship and the Industrial Training Fund (ITF) to reduce unemployment and create economic opportunities for young Nigerians.
The summit resolved to collaborate with the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN), the Bank of Industry (BOI) and other relevant institutions to improve access to grants, credit facilities and technical support for micro, small and medium enterprises, describing the sector as a major driver of employment and grassroots economic growth.
