By Sowole James
The Special Adviser to the Ogun State Governor on Development Partners Coordination, Dr. Bayo Adenekan, has called for a robust and structured partnership between the government and Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) to enhance development outcomes and guarantee effective service delivery across Nigeria.
Adenekan who represented Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, made the call while speaking on the theme, “Seeking Partnerships with Coalition of CSOs,” at the maiden Southern Civil Society Organisations Summit held on Wednesday at the Oriental Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos.
The summit, themed “Nigeria First on Sustainable Development,” brought together accredited CSOs, Community-Based Organisations (CBOs), development stakeholders, and government representatives from across the country to deliberate on national unity, governance, security, and economic development.
Adenekan stressed that the government and CSOs should no longer operate as isolated entities, but as partners with shared responsibilities in addressing socio-economic challenges and improving citizens’ welfare.
According to him, a deliberate framework for engagement would ensure that critical policies and interventions seamlessly reach intended beneficiaries, particularly at the grassroots. He highlighted the Vision of Governor Abiodun delivered via ISEYA mantra for the individual prosperity of citizens and economic development of Ogun State especially in Infrastructure and Social Welbeing via many donor funded projects including OGSTEP & OgunCARES programmes.
“We call for the establishment of a structured framework for collaboration between government and civil society as partners in nation-building, ensuring that public service delivery effectively reaches the last mile,” Adenekan stated.
He noted that while CSOs possess deep grassroots connections, community intelligence, and advocacy experience to monitor public projects, government institutions provide the necessary policy direction, regulatory support, and resources required to drive sustainable interventions.
He urged all stakeholders to embrace transparency, accountability, and mutual respect. He cited recent State Performance Index; SPI by Phillips Consulting which rated Ogun State as 2nd performing State after Lagos at the annual performance rating of States of federation as a key bedrock of Dapo Abiodun performance for Ogun State which now generates minimum 250 billion in IGR as at 2025 coming from mere about 50 billion in 2019 when the admin took over power in Ogun State.
Echoing this sentiment, President Bola Tinubu and Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, urged CSOs to prioritize national interest above all else to advance sustainable development and good governance.
Representing President Tinubu, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, described CSOs as critical partners in nation-building rather than opponents of government.
Akume stated that the traditional perception of CSOs as mere critics must give way to a recognition of their roles as “co-architects of national resilience” whose contributions complement state efforts.
He noted that the summit aligned with the administration’s Renewed Hope agenda, particularly in food security, poverty reduction, human capital development, and climate resilience.
While urging CSOs to support budget tracking and data-driven accountability, the SGF cautioned against accepting foreign funding capable of undermining Nigeria’s national interest.
He also disclosed that the Federal Government will convene a National CSO Summit in Abuja in the fourth quarter of 2026 to further strengthen state-citizen engagement.
In his remarks, Governor Sanwo-Olu likened the government and civil society to “two wings of the same bird,” asserting that constructive engagement is crucial to tackling insecurity, economic challenges, youth unemployment, and misinformation.
Sanwo-Olu highlighted that Lagos State has institutionalized citizen engagement through open budgeting and structured consultations, adding that policies developed via collaboration always enjoy wider public acceptance.
Earlier, the Director-General and National Convener of the summit, Mr. Kunle Yusuf, explained that the high-level dialogue was convened to promote inclusive governance, assess progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and deepen climate change partnerships.
He charged CSOs to uphold professionalism, comply with regulatory frameworks, and map out practical strategies to support local government autonomy.
The Deputy Country Representative of the United Nations, Amb. Patience Ekeoba, acknowledged global funding challenges but reaffirmed the UN’s commitment to supporting Nigerian CSOs through technical assistance and capacity building.
Similarly, the Director-General of the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), Prof. Ayo Omotayo, who served as the technical partner for the summit, emphasized that evidence-based policymaking and strategic collaboration remain the ultimate accelerators for sustainable national development.
