British Council, EU empower 273 CSOs across Nigeria on capacity building, sustainable development

The British Council in collaboration with the European Union (EU) has empowered 273 Civil Society Organisation (CSO) on capacity building and sustainable development.

The empowerment cut across the country and would happen through its Agents for Citizen-Driven Transformation (ACT) programme. ACT is funded by the EU and implemented by the British Council.

The Guardian learnt that the five-year programme, which started in 2019 focused on states across the country and aimed to support CSOs become more credible, effective and accountable agents of sustainable development in the country.

National Programme Manager of ACT, Damilare Babalola, speaking during the closing ceremony of the programme yesterday in Port Harcourt, said: “We focus on two areas of implementation, including the provision of capacity strengthening support to CSOs to perform more effectively in their areas of focus and also to facilitate a collaborative engagement between CSOs and other stakeholders to enable the regulatory environment for CSOs in Nigeria.”

He said the programme will officially close on April 14, marking the end of five-years of active implementation in the country, but noted that the essence of the ceremony was to create awareness for other stakeholders to key into the project.

He added that the closure will also enable MDAs in Rivers state to build further engagements with the CSOs, noting that the ACT programme cost 13.1 euros in the 10 focal states and the entire 36 states and FCT.

“Rivers state is one of the states that we started implementing the programme in our phase two launch in 2020. We worked with 21 CSOs in Rivers state by supporting them to build and increase their capacity from where we met them. The CSOs have testified to the support that ACT has impacted on their organisations.

“As we are exiting, it creates opportunities for the CSOs that we are working with to continue the good work and also to interact and share their experience with other CSOs to replicate what they have learnt in other states across the country,” he stated.

He urged the CSOs to make best use of the capacity and support that have been provided for them.

The Rivers State Focal Person for the ACT Programme, Temple Chukwuemeka Oraeki, in his remarks, emphasised the need for all stakeholders, including the government and development partners, to sustain the impact of the ACT Programme in the State.

He stressed that the ACT Programme is leaving behind a group of more credible Civil Society Organisations that can continue to work with their constituents, donors, and government at all levels, to bring about sustainable change.

According to him, the ACT CSO-Partners are amongst the legacies the programme is leaving behind as ambassadors of the programme, who have been equipped to continue to coach and mentor other grassroots organisations.

Governor of Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara, lauded the project and stressed the need for its expansion.

Represented by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Ishmael Diokuma, Fubara, assured that his government is ready to partner with the CSOs to ensure that the benefits of the programme is sustained.