Nigerian non-governmental organizations have come a long way from the early days of charities and community associations. As shown in this maiden edition of PLAC Beam, the late 1980s was a significant turning point with the emergence of human rights groups led by the Civil Liberties Organization (CLO).
Subsequently, many more organizations have emerged to engage in one form of social action or the other to address often gaping socio-economic and political needs. In the intervening years we have seen such a large proliferation of non-profits in Nigeria covering issues ranging from basic human rights and governance issues to women and children’s health, disability, gender and education. While there are no published official figures, it is reported that there are over 46,000 non-governmental organizations engaged in crucial work in various aspects of social intervention in Nigeria.
Unfortunately, some of their most important work very often do not get the attention they deserve and even go completely unnoticed, with the result that the full import and benefits are often lost on the rest of the society. Hence, the need for a platform to highlight some of such projects, the individuals behind them and what they have accomplished over time. The issues highlighted in this maiden edition bear out this need for information.
The cover story sets the tone with a story on the evolution of the modern human rights non-profits in Nigeria, starting with the formation of the CLO in 1987. Also featured is Omoyele Sowore, a personality whose activism was closely tied to the advocacy of the CLO and other human rights groups during the era of brutal military rule.
This edition features an interview with Ekaete Umoh of the Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities (JONAPWD) on how people with disabilities are organizing to get an inattentive mainstream to pay attention to their needs. Also highlighted is the work of Vine Heritage Foundation, a charity based in the Kuje district of Abuja, which has tackled some harmful traditional practices among the region’s rural communities for two decades.
A unique experiment embarked on by the Life Builders Initiative is providing education for thousands of children who would have been out of school otherwise. It is a scratch on the surface for a country with 10-15 million out-of-school children, but it shows a way forward.
The growth in the number of non-profits in Nigeria hasn’t been without the notice of the authorities. There’s been a move in recent years to increase their regulation, now reflected in several laws. We bring you up to date on those as well.
We promise you a similar fare and more in every edition of our newsletter as we embark on this journey of discovery through the work of the Nigerian non-profits’ community.
Appreciation
We would like to appreciate the Ford Foundation for supporting us to embark on this publication, which we hope will contribute to the body of knowledge on the work of civil society in Nigeria.
Happy Reading!