Civil Society Activism
Field engagements, community advocacy, and democratic empowerment initiatives at the grassroots level in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria.
Strengthening Good Governance and Democratic Processes at the Local Level
Funder: United Nations Democracy Fund (UNDEF)
Sub-grant through: Women United for Economic Empowerment (WUEE)
Implementing Body: Centre for Development Research Enlightenment and Advocacy (CDREA)
Location: Okobo Local Government Area, Akwa Ibom State
Period: August – November 2020
Through CDREA, this project was implemented as a sub-grant under Women United for Economic Empowerment (WUEE), funded by the United Nations Democracy Fund (UNDEF). The initiative was designed to deepen democratic participation in five rural communities of Okobo LGA — areas where twenty years of Nigerian democracy had yielded little tangible benefit to ordinary citizens.
The project employed a Participatory Action for Community Enhancement (PACE) methodology and a Rights-Based Approach (RBA), beginning with structured community entry exercises that secured the trust and endorsement of traditional rulers, village council members, women leaders, and youth leaders before any wider sensitization took place.
Target Communities
| Community | Ward / Location |
|---|---|
| Okopedi | 8-village clan; host of LGA secretariat |
| Itak-Uyati | Offi Ward 1, Okobo LGA |
| Ebighi Anwa-Ikpi | Offi Ward 1, Okobo LGA |
| Oti-Oro | Okobo LGA |
| Eyo-Nku | Offi Ward, Okobo LGA |
Civic Empowerment Strategies Delivered
- Political party membership & electoral participation
- Community Charter of Demand (CCD)
- Participation in budget processes & public hearings
- Councillor score-card monitoring
- Access to information & transparency advocacy
- Demand for equitable resource distribution
- Engagement with investigative media
- Public petitions to government authorities
- Organised peaceful protests (legal framework: ANPP vs IGP, 2008)
- Contribution to public deliberations
- Direct meetings with LGA leadership
Observed Outcome
On 31 October 2020, Akwa Ibom State conducted Local Government elections. All five sensitized communities recorded notably higher voter turnout than in previous elections, reflecting the measurable impact of the civic education and advocacy programme delivered by CDREA, WUEE, and UNDEF.
Community Entry Framework
A defining feature of this activism was the rigorous community entry protocol applied before any public sensitization. Rather than relying on direct outreach, each village was approached through a formal written request, followed by a face-to-face meeting with the chief-in-council, village council officers, women leaders, and youth leaders.
Key Informant Interviews with diverse public and private actors were used to identify the five most vulnerable communities. Cultural protocols were observed throughout, ensuring that community leaders became genuine co-owners of the programme — placed in the driver’s seat to demand accountability from duty-bearers at the local, state, and federal levels.
Partners: UNDEF · WUEE · CDREA · University of Uyo