By Peter Dibia, ( Imo State, Nigeria).
Ethics and Good Leadership Awareness Initiative (EGLAI), in partnership with the EU CSO Strengthening Bridge Project (EU CSO Bridge) implemented by the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA), organised a Two Day Capacity Building Workshop on Scaling the Adoption of Civil Society Organisation (CSO) Self Regulation in Nigeria.
The event took place at Aaron’s Place, 17 Ibusa Avenue, Independence Layout, Enugu, from January 21 and 22, 2026. It attracted participants from different civil society organisations across the South East region of Nigeria, including Enugu, Imo, Abia, Ebonyi and Anambra States and some selected Media Practitioners.
In his special remarks on Strengthening Civic Space through CSO Self Regulation, the EU CSO Bridge Project Director, Mr Edem Udoekong, explained that achieving greater impact requires widening the scope of CSO operations. He reminded participants that civil society organisations do not exist for themselves alone, but to serve and support development within their various states and communities.
He concluded by appreciating all participants for their commitment and active involvement in the capacity building workshop, which he described as critical to promoting effective self regulation within the civil society sector.
In his welcome address, the Team Lead of Ethics and Good Leadership Awareness Initiative (EGLAI), Mr Harry Udoh, affirmed that the essence of the workshop was to build the capacity of each participant to return to their respective states and replicate the knowledge gained for the benefit of others. He emphasised that civil society organisations are working towards self regulation while also speaking against undue restrictions from government.
According to him, CSOs play critical roles in societal development, particularly in education, politics, health, good governance and infrastructural development such as road construction.
He further stated that the workshop was organised to strengthen collective capacity, expressing confidence that participants would return to their states to share the knowledge acquired. He stressed that collective action and collaboration are essential for the growth and credibility of the sector.
Highlighting key focus areas, he mentioned monitoring and oversight, advocacy and awareness campaigns, facilitation of collaboration and networking, and the establishment of ethical guidelines and standards. He advised participants to work constructively with government authorities in their respective states, while maintaining that civil society organisations cannot achieve meaningful impact in isolation.
The key expected outcomes of the workshop include enhanced credibility and trust in civil society organisations, improved governance and accountability within the sector, strengthened collaboration among CSOs, increased policy influence, and greater recognition of the role of civil society in national development.
The session on Understanding Civil Society in Nigeria: Types, Roles, Legal Status and Operational Realities was facilitated by the Monitoring and Evaluation and Communication Officer as well as the Moderator of the workshop, Mrs Elizabeth Okwori, who provided participants with an in depth insights into the structure and functioning of civil society organisations within the Nigerian context.
Over the two days of intensive capacity building, participants were taken through several topics, including Strengthening Civic Space through CSO Self Regulation, Overview of EGLAI with emphasis on its evolution, mandate and strategic focus on CSO self regulation, Understanding Civil Society in Nigeria, types of CSOs, roles and functions of civil society organisations, legal status and regulatory framework, and operational realities and challenges.
Participants were also trained on Overview of CSO Self Regulation, focusing on the concept and rationale for self regulation, models and modalities of self regulation, available self regulation tools, and hybrid CSO self regulation modalities, with a detailed examination of approved hybrid approaches and their practical implications for CSOs.
The Project Coordinator, Mr Shiiwua Mnenga, took the participants through the Self Assessment Modality, explaining its purpose, benefits, assessment process, as well as the required tools and documentation. He also emphasised the importance of having a functional Board of Trustees, explaining how trustees operate within the civil society sector, the need to clearly define and communicate their roles, and appropriate ways of compensating them in line with best practices and ethical standards.
Further sessions covered working group and information service mechanisms, their structure and purpose, operationalisation strategies, and their roles in strengthening accountability and institutional learning. The workshop also examined the Nigerian CSO Minimum Standards of Operation, core standards and benchmarks, and their relevance to organisational effectiveness and credibility.
In addition, participants were exposed to the Code of Conduct Modality, which focused on standards and ethical principles, compliance requirements, and enforcement mechanisms. A practical simulation on CSO code of conduct adoption was conducted, covering step by step application of the code, organisational decision making, and compliance scenarios.
Discussions were also held on civic space dynamics at the subnational level, including the political and regulatory context and compliance challenges faced by civil society organisations.
The second day of the workshop commenced with a recap of the lessons from day one, led by the participants. Each session featured interactive question and answer segments, group discussions, and group presentations, which further enriched the learning experience and encouraged active participation throughout the programme.
0 Comments