Stakeholders Hold Conference In Ibadan To Strengthen Operations Of Civil Society Organisations

Civil Society Organisations, CSOs, play a critical role in fostering accountability, promoting democracy and strengthening communities across all the States of the Federation.

This was the submission of Experts at the South West Regional Conference on Scaling Policy Action, Strengthening the Regulatory Environment for Sustainable CSO Operations, organised by the Global Rights in Ibadan, Oyo State Capital .

According to the Experts, many of the CSOs are faced with operational and regulatory constraints, including huge financial obligations imposed on them, duplicate registration requirements among others.

In his own submission, Chairman, Governing Board of Global Rights, Professor Chidi Odinkalu maintained that the roles of Civil Society Organisations could not be overemphasized, hence, the need for collaboration among all the stakeholders in the Country for effective legislations , accountability and transparency.

On their parts, Vice Chairman, Senate Committee on Diaspora and NGOs, Senator Anthony Yaro, and Speaker, Oyo State House of Assembly, Mr Adebo Ogundoyin, who was represented by the Lawmaker representing Ibadan North East Constituency One, Mr Abiodun Babalola, stressed that the legislative arm of Government would always support the CSOs, considering their importance in the society.

Some of the Panelists including Professor Adekunle Adedeji, Mrs Toyin Ogedegbe, Mrs Omolara Balogun advocated a society where equality, justice and fairness reign.

The Conference brought together Civil Society Leaders, Regulators and Development Partners to reflect on the past year and how to further scale to action.