President Bola Tinubu has described civil society organisations as key partners in nation-building, urging them to work more closely with government in advancing transparency, accountability and sustainable development in Nigeria.
Tinubu made the call on Wednesday while declaring open the National Civil Society Organisations Summit 2026 and Southern Civil Society Organisations Summit held at the Oriental Hotel, Lagos.
The President, who was represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, spoke on the theme, “Nigeria First”, stressing that the role of civil society groups had expanded beyond traditional activism.
He said their involvement in national affairs reflected “patriotism in action”, noting their contributions during emergencies such as the COVID-19 pandemic and their continued relevance in addressing issues including flooding, climate change and public health challenges.
“Your work is not restricted to activism against the government; it is patriotism in action for Nigeria,” Tinubu said.
According to him, the Nigeria First agenda was not aimed at isolating the country but focused on ensuring that government policies, partnerships and investments placed the interests and well-being of Nigerians at the centre.
He said the summit supported the administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda and its eight priority areas, covering economic reforms, security, food production, infrastructure, education, healthcare, industrial, digital transformation and improved governance.
Tinubu said CSOs had important roles to play in achieving these goals through activities such as monitoring budgets, tracking community projects, sharing data, promoting social accountability and independently assessing government programmes.
He identified food security, poverty reduction, effective governance and human capital development as areas where stronger cooperation between government and civil society organisations was needed.
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Speaking on food security, the President called for increased adoption of climate-smart agricultural methods, preservation of wetlands and restoration of mangroves, particularly amid forecasts of prolonged rainfall and possible flooding in Lagos and other southern states.
He also pointed to opportunities in the blue economy, renewable energy and environmental services, saying these sectors could create jobs and improve livelihoods for young Nigerians and women.
Tinubu said Nigerians working in renewable energy, waste management, aquaculture and climate-related services were not only generating income but also contributing to the country’s long-term progress.
The President further stressed the importance of collaboration in tackling health challenges linked to climate change, noting that flooding and extreme weather events had heightened the risk of diseases such as cholera and malaria.
He assured civil society organisations that his administration remained open to constructive criticism, describing accountability as essential to effective governance and better public service delivery.
However, Tinubu encouraged CSOs to strengthen self-regulation and improve internal governance structures to prevent unethical conduct and preserve public confidence in the sector.
He reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to maintaining structured engagement with civil society groups nationwide, expressing optimism that recommendations from the summit would provide practical responses to Nigeria’s development challenges.