Adejoke Adeleye, Abeokuta
In a strategic move to fortify the integrity of the civic space, the Ethics and Good Leadership Awareness Initiative (EGLAI) has organized a 2-day workshop for Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), Southwest Champions, and Sub-National Network Leads.
The workshop, which was held in Lagos, featured a full delegation from Ogun, Lagos, Osun, Ekiti, Ondo, and Oyo States and marks a significant milestone in the nationwide rollout of the Approved Hybrid CSO Self-Regulation (SR) Modalities.
The initiative aims to shift the narrative from external government control to a voluntary system of internal accountability.
The team lead, Mr. Harry Udo, during the opening session “Bridging the Gap in Governance,” emphasized that while the government often struggles to solve societal issues, CSOs exist to fill the gaps and reach the unreached. However, he noted that with the proliferation of organizations comes the need for rigorous self-discipline.
He noted that “Self-regulation is about holding oneself responsible.
“It’s about demonstrating to the public and the government that CSOs operate with integrity, thereby reducing the justification for restrictive external regulations.”
He noted that CSO constitutions need to ensure self-regulation, which is embedded in the foundational documents of every sub-national network.
Shinwua Mnenga, a facilitator of the team in his session, opined that a CSO must set the Minimum Standards of Operations. He said these standards serve as the backbone for any credible CSO, covering 12 critical areas which include: Governance & Transparency, Financial Integrity, Annual budgets, Legal Compliance, Ethical Fundraising, among others.
He said, “Minimum standard operations are the backbone of credible CSOs; they safeguard accountability and turn good intentions into measurable impact.”
Peer Leadership and the Road Ahead
The workshop was not merely theoretical. Participants and media were thoroughly engaged in deep deliberations regarding the Hybrid Modalities, which include self-assessment tools, a unified Code of Conduct, and the establishment of self-regulation.
A key outcome of the meeting was the decision to utilize existing working group platforms to monitor compliance and share best practices.
Mr. Kasali Babatunde Pelewura, Chairman of the Committee, closed the session by highlighting the link between leadership roles and self-regulation, urging the newly minted State Champions to serve as multipliers of these ethical standards within their respective thematic areas.”
Key takeaways include Capacity Building, CSOs equipped with practical self-assessment tools, Trust Building, Enhanced public and donor confidence in the sector, Policy Influence, Increased recognition of the civil society’s role in national development, Safety: A protected civic space with less reliance on external government policing.
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