The President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu, Supervising Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Dr. Yusuf Sununu, and Minister of Youth Development, Olawande Ayodele, will attend the inaugural Civil Society Summit alongside over 800 affiliate members of the National Civil Society Council of Nigeria (NCSCN).

The NCSCN is poised to host a landmark Civil Society Summit in Abuja, gathering affiliate members, government officials, and development partners.

The summit, scheduled from July 31 to August 1 at the Rotunda Hall, Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs, aims to generate recommendations for policy reforms and actions that foster democracy, good governance, and sustainable development in Nigeria.

In a statement on Wednesday, Executive Director of NCSCN, Ambassador Blessing Akinlosotu, explained that the summit promises to be a significant event, shaping the future of civil society engagements and promoting collective action towards a more sustainable and equitable development environment in Nigeria.

He said by focusing on good governance principles, including transparency, accountability, participation, and the rule of law, the summit aims to foster a more responsive and responsible government.

He said the event would also provide a platform for young people to brainstorm on governance and national development.

Akinlosotu said the Minister of Interior, Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, Sen. Shehu Sani, who represented Kaduna Central in the 8th Assembly, and Sunday Dare, Special Adviser on Media and Public Communication to the President, would grace the occasion.

He said that Aisha Yesufu, an activist and crusader for civic and community development, will also attend the summit.

According to him, the theme of the summit is ‘Civil Society, Democracy Reforms: Building Sustainable Partnership for National Development’.

The Executive Director explained that the summit aimed to bring together state and non-state actors, development partners, and civil society organisations to discuss and build sustainable partnerships for national development.

“The summit will provide a platform for stakeholders to discuss democracy reforms, share experiences, and build partnerships for national development.

“It will also offer opportunities for networking and collaboration among civil society organisations, government agencies, and development partners,” he said.

Akinlosotu stated that the summit was expected to yield recommendations for policy reforms and actions that would foster democracy, good governance, and sustainable development in Nigeria.

According to him, the outcomes will determine future civil society engagements with government and development partners.

He mentioned other notable attendees such as Hajiya Iman Ibrahim, Minister for Women Affairs, and Zephania Jisalo, Minister of Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Affairs, among others.