Francesca Odimgbe
President Bola Tinubu and the Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, have called for patriotism, accountability and inclusive partnerships to accelerate Nigeria’s sustainable development.
They stressed the need for stronger collaboration between the government and civil society and community-based organisations.
President Tinubu made the appeal during the National Summit of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) and Community-Based Organisations (CBOs) held in Lagos on Wednesday.
Speaking at the event, the President, who was represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, described the theme of the summit, “Nigeria First and Sustainable Development”, as both timely and significant.
President Tinubu stressed that national interest must remain the guiding principle for policies, partnerships and public investments.
He said the ‘Nigeria First’ philosophy does not imply isolationism but rather a commitment to ensuring that every government policy and development initiative prioritises the welfare of Nigerians while promoting inclusive, climate-resilient and future-focused development through purposeful leadership.
The President noted that the summit aligns with the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which focuses on economic reforms, national security, food security, infrastructure development, improved healthcare and education, industrialisation, and effective governance.
He identified agriculture, the blue economy, renewable energy and environmental sustainability as key sectors where stronger partnerships between government and civil society could drive economic growth and improve livelihoods.
While reaffirming the government’s commitment to working with civil society across the federation, President Tinubu cautioned organisations against undue foreign influence, urging them to ensure that national interest remains the overriding consideration in accepting external funding.
Speaking at the summit, Governor Sanwo-Olu described the gathering as a defining moment for Nigeria, saying the country requires unity, patriotism and constructive engagement to overcome its current challenges.
Governor Sanwo-Olu commended the organisers for choosing the theme “Nigeria First”, describing it as a national creed that calls on every Nigerian to place the country’s collective interest above ethnic, religious and political differences.
“Nigeria First is more than a slogan. It is a call to every citizen, every leader and every institution to place the collective destiny of our nation above narrow considerations of ethnicity, religion, region or partisanship,” he said.
Governor Sanwo-Olu maintained that civil society organisations remain indispensable partners in democratic governance, serving as the bridge between government and citizens while promoting accountability, transparency, electoral integrity, community health, gender equality and good governance.
He, however, urged civil society leaders to ensure that their advocacy remains factual, constructive and patriotic.
“The privilege of holding the government accountable comes with a corresponding duty to be constructive, factual, fair and patriotic. Advocacy that inflames division rather than heals it betrays the very communities it seeks to serve,” he said.
Governor Sanwo-Olu highlighted Lagos State’s long standing collaboration with civil society, noting that his administration has institutionalised citizen engagement through open budget processes, town hall meetings and consultations with CSOs and CBOs on education, healthcare, transportation, environmental protection and social welfare.
The Governor said policies developed in partnership with citizens are more sustainable than those imposed without public participation.
Addressing the nation’s economic and security challenges, Governor Sanwo-Olu expressed confidence in Nigeria’s resilience, citing its youthful population, entrepreneurial spirit, abundant natural resources and over 27 years of uninterrupted democratic governance as reasons for optimism.
Speaking earlier, the National Convener of the summit, Hon. Kunle Yusuf, said the Civil Society Organisations platform serves as the coordinating body for accredited civil society organisations across Nigeria.
He disclosed that the platform currently has about 6,000 registered CSOs, CBOs and NGOs, with thousands actively implementing programmes aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
Yusuf said the summit focuses on five critical areas: national unity, peace and security; food security and sustainable agriculture; climate action and implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals; democratic governance, judicial independence and institutional reforms; and strategic information management and public communication.
He called on civil society organisations to combat misinformation by ensuring that only verified and credible information is disseminated to the public.
The National Convener further encouraged CSOs to deepen collaboration with community-based organisations across Nigeria’s local governments and recommit themselves to promoting national unity, democratic values and sustainable development.