On the 29th November 2023, Savannah Centre received book donation from the Indian High Commission. The Commission is a strategic partner of the Centre and the books received will, in no small measure, contribute to the Center’s library development.The Centre expressed gratitude to the Indian High Commissioner and his team for the kind gesture.
On the 22nd and 23rd of November 2023, Savannah Centre and its Steering Committee on Drug Abuse in collaboration with the Kano State House of Assembly had a follow-up engagement on “𝐊𝐚𝐧𝐨 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐃𝐫𝐮𝐠𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐒𝐮𝐛𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐀𝐛𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐌𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐁𝐢𝐥𝐥 (𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟑)” which already attained the first reading after the redraft activity took place on the 26th and 27th September, 2023.
The activity included rounds of further engagements and interactive sessions with the Kano State House of Assembly and other relevant Stakeholders in Kano. The goal of the activity was to amongst other things to develop further synergy and strategies that would help in facilitating the prompt passage and assent accordingly.
On the 8th of November, 2023, Savannah Centre for Diplomacy, Democracy and Development, with support from the MacArthur Foundation, held its Stakeholders Roundtable Engagement on National Cohesion for its Leadership Accountability and Effectiveness Dialogue project on the theme: 𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐥𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐍𝐢𝐠𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐚’𝐬 𝐃𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐢𝐧 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐦𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐍𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐂𝐨𝐡𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐒𝐨𝐜𝐢𝐨-𝐏𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐃𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐩𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭.
The event saw high-level stakeholders from different sections of Nigerian society dissect the concept of restructuring and its imperativeness as one of the pathways to sustainable development, national prosperity, and a secured polity. Issues around national identity, value reorientation, good governance, parenting, and institutional reformation were brought to the fore.
The programme ended with a statement on the necessity of restructuring the system down to the citizenry, as this is the only way to build the nation Nigerians need.
Appreciation to MacArthur Foundation for its continuous and strategic support in galvanising critical national conversations and interventions.
Between the 26th and 27th of September 2023, Savannah Centre for Diplomacy, Democracy and Development in collaboration with the Kano State House of Assembly (KSHA) under the CIPP project, had an expert desk-review session to analyse line-by-line the “Kano State Drugs and Substance Abuse Management Bill” for the purpose of re-presentation for debate and passage in the Assembly.
The review meeting provided an opportunity to factor in developing context on drug abuse in the State vis-a-vis strongly established or linked the menace of substance abuse and conflict dynamics at the community level in Kano State and by extension, the North West geo-political zone of Nigeria.
The meeting which was a follow-up to the Policy Advocacy Engagement visit to the leadership of the KSHA 2 weeks ago had in attendance the Kano State Commandant of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA); Special Adviser on Enlightenment and Social Mobilization to the Executive Governor of Kano State, as well as Senior Legislative Aids from KSHA, which included; the Directors of Administration, Director of Human Resources and Secretary to the Health Committee in the Kano State House of Assembly (KSHA).
On Wednesday 20th September 2023, in Yola, Adamawa state, Northeast Nigeria, Savannah Centre for Diplomacy, Democracy and Development continued its Regional Consultative Forum under the 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩 𝐄𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐀𝐜𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐃𝐢𝐚𝐥𝐨𝐠𝐮𝐞 (𝐋𝐄𝐀𝐃) project funded by the MacArthur Foundation, under it’s “Enhancing Citizens Engagement of Accountability and Social Inclusion Issues around Election’
The meeting X-rayed the theme: 𝐍𝐈𝐆𝐄𝐑𝐈𝐀 𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐋𝐋E𝐍𝐆𝐄𝐒 𝐎𝐅 𝐍𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍𝐀𝐋 𝐔𝐍𝐈𝐓𝐘 𝐁𝐄𝐘𝐎𝐍𝐃 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟑 𝐆𝐄𝐍𝐄𝐑𝐀𝐋 𝐄𝐋𝐄𝐂𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍𝐒 𝐕𝐒. 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐈𝐌𝐏𝐄𝐑𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐕𝐄𝐎𝐅 𝐃𝐈𝐀𝐋𝐎𝐆𝐔𝐄𝐒 𝐅𝐎𝐑 𝐍𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍𝐀𝐋 𝐂𝐎𝐇𝐄𝐒𝐈𝐎𝐍, 𝐒𝐄𝐂𝐔𝐑𝐈𝐓𝐘 𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐃𝐄𝐕𝐄𝐋𝐎𝐏𝐌𝐄𝐍𝐓.
𝐀𝐦𝐛. 𝐀𝐛𝐝𝐮𝐥𝐥𝐚𝐡𝐢 𝐎𝐦𝐚𝐤𝐢, nooc, fsma, a seasoned diplomat and former SSA to the President Mohammadu Buhari on International Affairs, brought to the fore universal perspectives on the 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐍𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐔𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐈𝐦𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐃𝐢𝐚𝐥𝐨𝐠𝐮𝐞𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐍𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐂𝐨𝐡𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧, 𝐒𝐞𝐜𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐲, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐃𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐩𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭. He emphasised that the advancement of Nigeria is the collective responsibility of both the leaders and the led.
Ms. Halima Oiza Sadiq, Executive Director, Chachavivi Women and Girl Child Development Foundation (CCWGDF) also shared perspectives on 𝐄𝐧𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐖𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧’𝐬 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐩𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐢𝐧 𝐍𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐁𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐒𝐨𝐜𝐢al 𝐂𝐨𝐡𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐍𝐢𝐠𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐧��𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲.
The participants from different structures of the Northeast alluded to the need for collective effort in bringing to reality the nation that all desire. The Centre deeply appreciates the MacArthur Foundation for its continuous funding and support towards attaining social cohesion in Nigeria.
On the 13th and 14th September Mercy Corps Nigeria in collaboration with Savannah Centre for Diplomacy, Democracy and Development and Plateau State Ministry of Youths and Sports, officially commenced the process of domesticating the United Nations Security Council Resolution 2250 on Youth, Peace and Security Agenda (2015).
This particular round of engagements is to amongst other things gain the buy-in and full commitment of the critical State and non-state actors vis-a-vis youth structures in the State. Watch out for more exciting developments as this journey of YPS in Plateau unfolds.
The Honorable Commissioner of Youth and Sport, the Director of the Ministry of Youth and Sport as well as the Plateau State Government House Director on Research, Policy, and Documentation demonstrated unusual warm reception.
Yesterday, 12th September 2023, the Savannah Centre for Diplomacy, Democracy and Development under the USAID-funded Community Initiative to Promote Peace (CIPP) project, led a Policy Influencing and Advocacy Engagement to the Kano State House of Assembly to re-introduce the “𝐊𝐚𝐧𝐨 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐃𝐫𝐮𝐠𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐒𝐮𝐛𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐀𝐛𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐌𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐁𝐢𝐥𝐥” to the 10th Kano State House of Assembly (KSHA).
The team was received by the 𝐒𝐩𝐞𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐫 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐇𝐨𝐮𝐬𝐞, represented by the 𝐃𝐞𝐩𝐮𝐭𝐲 𝐒𝐩𝐞𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐫, 𝐑𝐭. 𝐇𝐨𝐧. 𝐌𝐮𝐡𝐚𝐦𝐦𝐚𝐝 𝐁𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐨 𝐁𝐮𝐭𝐮 𝐁𝐮𝐭𝐮 and six other members of the House, which includes; the 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐢𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐧, 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐇𝐨𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐞 𝐨𝐧 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐡, 𝐑𝐭. 𝐇𝐨𝐧. 𝐙𝐚𝐤𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐲𝐲𝐚 𝐀𝐥𝐡𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐚𝐧 𝐈𝐬𝐡𝐚𝐪 and his counterpart in the Youth and Sport as well as the Assembly Chief Whip.
The strategic visit was for the fact that the “Kano State Drugs and Substance Abuse Management Bill” was one of the crucial pieces of legislation that SCDDD was pursuing before the end of the last Assembly which unfortunately couldn’t attract the former Governor of Kano State, H.E Abdullahi Ganduje’s assent despite its successive passage in the Assembly.
This time around, we are starting early with the new Assembly and the reception and commitment by the Assembly can simply be described as a phenomenon. Meanwhile, some of the major takeaways from the meeting include;
On 31st August 2023, Savannah Centre for Diplomacy, Democracy and Development through its 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩 𝐄𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐀𝐜𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐃𝐢𝐚𝐥𝐨𝐠𝐮𝐞 (𝐋𝐄𝐀𝐃) Project supported by the MacArthur Foundation held another edition of the 𝐋𝐄𝐀𝐃 𝐑𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐨 𝐂𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐳𝐞𝐧 𝐓𝐨𝐰𝐧 𝐇𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐌𝐞𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 with a focus on 𝐊𝐄𝐘 𝐏𝐄𝐑𝐅𝐎𝐑𝐌𝐀𝐍𝐂𝐄 𝐈𝐍𝐃𝐈𝐂𝐀𝐓𝐎𝐑𝐒 𝐅𝐎𝐑 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐂𝐀𝐁𝐈𝐍𝐄𝐓 𝐌𝐈𝐍𝐈𝐒𝐓𝐄𝐑𝐒 𝐯𝐬 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐋𝐋𝐄𝐍𝐆𝐄𝐒 𝐎𝐅 𝐆𝐎𝐕𝐄𝐑𝐍𝐀𝐍𝐂𝐄, 𝐋𝐎𝐂𝐀𝐋 𝐄𝐂𝐎𝐍𝐎𝐌𝐘 𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐍𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍𝐀𝐋 𝐔𝐍𝐈𝐓𝐘 at the Centre’s Conference Hall in Abuja.
The meeting had in attendance stakeholders and issues around current realities in the country were discussed as well as key indicators the President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR should consider for the cabinet Ministers towards achieving the government’s set objectives.
Among these is the need for Ministers to collaborate with Civil Society Organizations when implementing policies to ensure optimal utilisation of resources, especially at the local level. Also, conduct regular and impartial evaluations to ensure that ministers’ performances are continuously monitored and improvements are acknowledged.
To contribute to solutions being proffered to the current state of the nation, Savannah Centre for Diplomacy, Democracy and Development through its Leadership Effectiveness and Accountability Dialogue (LEAD) Project supported by the MacArthur Foundation conveyed experts meeting for CONTEXT ANALYSIS ON THE STATE OF THE NATION on15th& 16th August 2023.
The meeting which was held in Jos, Plateau State helped the Centre to get the perspectives of Nigerians in a microcosm on how Nigerians at different levels can assist in surmounting the challenges confronting the nation.
The meeting also provided the Centre the insight into how to consolidate the successes the LEAD project has achieved as we engage different stakeholders in the country in the coming weeks.
On the 31st of July and 1st of August 2023, Savannah Centre for Diplomacy, Democracy and Development in collaboration with Mercy Corps – Nigeria under the Community Initiatives to Promote Peace (CIPP) project, engaged with the pioneer board members and management staff of the Benue State Commission for Peace and Reconciliation (BSCPR) as they officially commenced operation with Two (2) – Day Capacity Building Workshop.
The event which took place at the Benue Metropolitan Hotel had in attendance the Benue State Governor, H.E Fr. Hyacinth Iormem Alia represented by Dr. Emmanuel Chenge, Principal Private Secretary to the Governor; Dr. Moses Tule, Committee Chairman, His Excellency Rev. Fr. Dr Hyacinth Alia hundred days in office and the board members and staff of the Commission. At the event, the governor pledged his commitment to welcoming any initiative that can promote peace in the state.
