During the workshop, stakeholders identified challenges confronting residents in Abuja, spanning infrastructure deficits, inadequate public services, environmental degradation, and social inequalities.

 Through the discussions and breakout sessions, participants provided concrete demands and recommendations for creating an inclusive, livable, and sustainable city.

The charter that will emerge from this collective effort will cover the people’s vision for a transformed Abuja, where residents enjoy access to essential services, reliable infrastructure, and opportunities for social mobility. Key themes included:

– Enhanced public transportation systems

– Affordable housing and healthcare

– Robust waste management and environmental conservation

– Inclusive urban planning and community engagement

– Improved education and economic opportunities

The People’s Charter of Demand will serve as a critical advocacy tool, for engagement with key policy makers, government stakeholders, and urban planners.

 This charter aims to inform and influence policy decisions, ensuring that city development prioritizes community needs and promotes an inclusive and livable city for all.

On September 10th, 2024, CHRICED and its sub-grantees gathered for a one-day Stakeholders Report-Back Session to share their journey since 2021. The event, “Advocating for the Rights of Federal Capital Territory Original Inhabitants: Milestones and Challenges,” highlighted the progress made in supporting marginalized groups affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. The project, funded by the MacArthur Foundation, focused on critical areas such as political rights, cultural preservation, youth empowerment, service delivery, disability support, and ending gender-based violence.

The initiative addresses the historical displacement of indigenous communities following the 1976 military decree designating Abuja as the Federal Capital Territory. Despite Abuja’s growth, original inhabitants face systemic exclusion, marginalization, and limited access to resources and opportunities.

HipCity Innovation Centre presented its successes, including the “Abuja: a city for all” project and “Know Your Area Council.” Executive Director Bassey Bassey emphasized integrative urban planning to address social injustices, particularly forceful evictions and demolitions. He introduced HipCity’s eviction and demolition reporting platform, www.evictionsinnigeria.org, allowing Nigerians to report threats or incidents in their locality.

The event showcased milestones achieved and challenges remaining in advocating for these communities’ rights. CHRICED and its partners remain committed to advancing recognition, inclusion, and social justice for underserved communities in the FCT and Africa.

On August 20th, 2024, HipCity Innovation Centre launched two groundbreaking initiatives, the Eviction and Demolition Reporting Tracker and the Know Your Area Council (KYAC) project, aimed at addressing pressing issues in urban governance. The events brought together participants from various organizations, including the Abuja Women Coalition, Civil Society Organizations, and the media.

The Eviction and Demolition Reporting Tracker is a web-based platform designed to monitor and document incidents of eviction and demolition, providing empirical data to advocate for policy change. The tool is intended to hold authorities accountable and ensure humane treatment of affected communities. Bassey Bassey, Executive Director of HipCity Innovation Centre, highlighted the challenges citizens face during demolition, including injuries, property destruction, and exploitation by hoodlums, leaving vulnerable individuals without support.

Similarly, the KYAC project seeks to bridge the gap between Area Councils and citizens by providing information, promoting civic engagement, and enhancing transparency and accountability. It will produce performance scorecards for elected leaders, evaluate project impacts, and offer platforms for executives to report on their activities. The project aims to address three specific goals: increasing citizen engagement, enhancing transparency, and improving accountability.

Participants praised the initiatives, emphasizing the need for citizen engagement, transparency, and accountability in urban governance. They suggested expanding the projects to rural areas, educating citizens on budget tracking, and organizing town hall meetings to clarify the roles of area councils. The importance of acknowledging and supporting the original inhabitants, who are gradually losing their ancestral ties and are often neglected, was also emphasized.

HipCity Innovation Centre expressed its commitment to collaboration and partnerships to popularize the initiatives and drive positive change in urban governance. The organization is open to working with other organizations to educate and sensitize citizens on local government functions, ensuring that the initiatives remain focused and effective.

HipCity on August 14th, 2024, attended a validation meeting hosted by the Dorothy Njemanze Foundation for the compendium on inclusive leadership in Nigeria at Bridge Waters Hotel, Wuye Abuja.

The compendium, a follow-up on the breakfast meeting held in April, seeks to address the challenges and barriers affecting women and girls in Nigeria. It highlights gender issues and challenges across various sectors, including governance, education, business, sports, health, security, media, agriculture, and mining.

The document provides recommendations and effective strategies for fostering inclusive leadership policies, including strengthening legal and policy frameworks, implementing affirmative action, providing equal access to resources, supporting survivors of gender-based violence, and challenging harmful gender stereotypes.

Stakeholders in attendance provided various observations and recommendations, including the need for mental health education for women, incorporating mental health topics in education curriculum, simplifying the national gender policy for grassroots education, targeted political education for women, increased sensitization on gender-based violence, and humanizing the document with real-life examples.

The event emphasized the critical role of advocacy at all levels of government ministries in Nigeria, as gender issues are a concern for everyone. The upcoming public launch of the compendium will mark a significant step toward advancing gender equity and inclusive leadership in Nigeria.

Follow up on the validation meeting will be, making the document comprehensive by including all recommendations made and a possible public launch of the compendium.

In commemoration of the International Youth Day, the Young Planners Forum of the Nigerian Institute of Town Planners and in collaboration with HipCity Innovation Centre as Media partner convened a technical forum on August 12, 2024, in Abuja. This event provided a platform for discussion on how urban planning can better cater to the needs of the youth, who represent a substantial portion of the population. The forum aimed to foster dialogue and generate actionable insights to urban environments that are both inclusive and functional for the youth.

For context, sub-Saharan Africa is one of the most urbanizing region in the world, with over 60% living in urban areas and 85% of the population are youth. 

The forum highlighted that the exclusion of youth from town planning discussions results in urban plans that do not adequately address their needs. The event featured a paper presentation on “Youth Friendly Neighborhoods and Walkable Communities” and a panel discussion on the attributes of youth-friendly neighborhoods, emphasizing the importance of affordable housing, safety, walkability, job opportunities etc. 

Participants also explored solutions to barriers such as land access and funding, and discussed strategies for decentralizing economic activities to boost development in less central areas.

Sadly, poor infrastructure, the conversion of open spaces and green areas to commercial use and social events were identified as major barriers to creating youth-friendly environments. 

On a positive note, proposed solutions included inclusive youth participation in urban planning, decentralizing economic/commercial centers, enhancing infrastructure, and improving safety and security and the strategies to achieve youth friendly environments include:

• Creation and/or revitalization of youth centers across the six area councils
• Urban designs should consider the economic advantages of developing walkable communities and the role of partnerships between businesses, local governments, and communities. 
• Opening up commercial centers across the FCT that encourages youth enterprise and ease of doing business.
• The need for youth involvement in the design of residential and recreational spaces was highlighted. 
• Create a special mortgage portfolio to enable young persons’ own homes and rent as well.

In conclusion, the importance of implementing plans effectively to achieve youth-friendly neighborhoods was stressed. Advocacy for continued involvement of youth in planning and design processes was seen as crucial for creating vibrant and inclusive urban spaces. Addressing infrastructure and urban sprawl issues, and promoting partnerships among stakeholders especially the private sector was encouraged. 

Why Participate?

Your Voice Matters: This survey provides a platform for you to share your experiences and priorities. Your feedback will directly influence policies affecting education, employment, health, and well-being in the FCT.
Be a Changemaker: By taking part in this survey, you’re actively contributing to creating a brighter future for yourself and other young people. Your input will help shape a policy that ensures increased access to education and training, better employment prospects, and improved mental health services, among other benefits.

Quick and Confidential: The survey is designed to be quick and easy, taking about 10 minutes to complete. Rest assured, all responses will be kept confidential.

Your participation is invaluable in building a Youth Development Policy that reflects the real-world experiences and needs of young people in the FCT.

To be a part of this change…Take The Survey And Add Your Voice by clicking HERE.

Following the major milestone recorded by the Growth Initiative for Fiscal Transparency GIFT cluster, made up five civil society organization, including HipCity Innovation Centre in the passage of the Fiscal Responsibility Amendment Act first reading at the National Assembly, they have issued a call to action, urging Nigerians to actively demand accountability from the Federal Government in the management of public finances.

This appeal was made during a national policy dialogue on fiscal reforms and debt management held in Abuja.

At the event, Mr. Oke Epia, Executive Director of OrderPaper Nigeria, highlighted the critical need for citizens to closely monitor government actions and hold officials accountable for any mismanagement of public funds. The dialogue, which brought together stakeholders from various sectors, facilitated insightful discussions and constructive exchanges on pressing fiscal responsibility issues, creating a collaborative environment for knowledge sharing and solution-driven dialogue.

“We want to ask the public to hold the government to account by asking the National Assembly to expedite the amendment of the Fiscal Responsibility Act 2007,” Epia stated. He emphasized the importance of public pressure on lawmakers to address loopholes and leakages in public finance management, particularly regarding remittances and accountability.

Epia noted that Nigeria’s public debt has surged dramatically, rising from N12.8 trillion in 2015 to N87.91 trillion in 2023, marking a staggering 585% increase. He stressed the necessity of economic diversification and the development of other sectors to ensure sustainable growth and reduce reliance on a single commodity. He expressed optimism that the amended Fiscal Responsibility Act (FRA) would positively impact Nigeria’s economy, driving growth and development.

“The rise in Nigeria’s total debt stock from N12.85 trillion in 2015 to a staggering N87.91 trillion in September 2023 is alarming,” Epia remarked. He pointed to the bungled N22.7 trillion Ways and Means facility to the federal government, fluctuating forex rates, inflation, and economic hardships as evidence of current fiscal policy failures.

Recent fiscal policies have led to increased tax burdens on citizens, such as the removal of fuel subsidies, which resulted in a more than 300% increase in fuel prices. Additionally, a proposed 0.5% cybersecurity levy has faced public backlash, compounded by existing bank charges for electronic transactions, transfer fees, stamp duties, and Value Added Tax (VAT).

Chairman of the House Committee on National Planning and Economic Development, Isiaka Ibrahim, also spoke at the dialogue, expressing concerns over Nigeria’s heavy reliance on crude oil. He noted that despite the country’s current debt profile, Nigeria still has the capacity to borrow more funds. He drew comparisons with the World Bank, emphasizing Nigeria’s potential to leverage its economy to secure additional financing.

“Nigeria’s total internal and external debt, including non-bond borrowing, stands at $114 billion, with an excess of $138 billion in the size of the economy,” Ibrahim stated. He highlighted that the World Bank, with a total consolidated capital of $298 billion, has only $19 billion in contributions from donor agencies and countries, suggesting that Nigeria can still borrow from the World Bank, maintaining a net surplus.

The national policy dialogue underscored the urgent need for fiscal reforms and increased public participation in holding the government accountable. By amending the Fiscal Responsibility Act and addressing the loopholes in public finance management, Nigeria can pave the way for sustainable economic growth and development.

In a bid to amplify the voices of women in governance decision-making and equip them with essential leadership skills, HipCity organized a two-day leadership training for mapped local women from Sabo Iddo, Durumi I,II, III, IDP Camp and Karshi communities.

The event held at Women Environmental Programme office, Gaduwa Estate, Abuja.

The training aimed at empowering women to demand spaces in governance decisions, enhance their leadership capabilities, and prepare them for an upcoming town-hall meeting, was facilitated by Dr. Damilola Agbalajobi, an Associate Professor and Acting Head of Department, Political Science at Obafemi Awolowo, Ile-Ife, Osun, Nigeria.

The training commenced with introductory remarks from Mr. Bassey, emphasizing the importance of women’s participation in decision-making processes. He highlighted the upcoming town-hall meeting, where women would take charge with support from Hipcity. A representative of Henrich Boll Stifung, expressed delight at the engagement and encouraged the participants to actively participate in the training.

Taking the first topic- Understanding Women’s Role in Decision Making, Dr. Damilola Agbalajobi elucidated the intricacies of decision-making processes and the significance of women’s involvement. She outlined the steps involved in decision-making and emphasized the benefits of women’s participation, including the introduction of gender quotas, conflict prevention, and fostering inclusivity. Dr. Damilola also identified barriers hindering women’s participation, such as patriarchy, education level, and lack of confidence.

The facilitator explained electoral processes in Nigeria and the importance of self-confidence in pursuing leadership roles. Techniques for developing self-confidence were discussed, including positive affirmations and identifying role models. The session emphasized the different types of power and encouraged participants to recognize and harness their inner strength.

Explaining on how to develop mobilization skills essential for effective leadership, Dr. Damilola, emphasized on strategic planning and communication. Participants learned to leverage time management and delegation for impactful mobilization efforts. The session concluded with insights into teamwork and collaboration.

Other topics covered by the training was, communication skill and Knowledge about Leadership and Decision-making Roles.

Participants engaged in breakout sessions to deliberate on community challenges and propose solutions. Issues ranging from infrastructure deficiencies to unemployment were addressed, with solutions including community advocacy and collaboration with local authorities.

High point of the event were class activities, role plays and commitment by the women to share their skills and support other women in skills empowerment, to be the voice for other women. Others promised to mobilize more women to step down the training and encourage women to stand by their power.

Concluding the session, Mr. Bassey encouraged participants to leverage their newfound skills to drive community development and mobilize more women for their upcoming town-hall meetings. He emphasized the importance of women’s voices and urged them to stand out and add value to their communities.

The comprehensive training session provided women with the knowledge, skills, and confidence necessary to actively engage in governance and leadership roles, paving the way for inclusive and equitable decision-making processes.

The United Nations International Day of Democracy is celebrated on every September 15^th, towards supporting government to strengthen and consolidate democracy. Democracy is about the power of the people – government of the people, by the people and for the people; “government in which the supreme power is vested in the people and exercised by them directly or indirectly through a system of representation usually involving periodically held free election”[i]. The key focus of democracy is to promote human right as well as to ensure that both men and women are carried along and treated equally on the basis of their fundamental human rights, have equal access to opportunities and have the choice to participate in political and electoral process, be able to vote and be voted for. According to UNESCO[ii], democracy stands on the ability of people to freely make political choices to choose their leaders, government and policies.

Women are part of the people as described in the definition of Democracy; they make up about half of the world’s population. In recent times there has been an “increased focus by global policy makers and governments on the need for women’s participation in political processes and on their contributions to building stronger societies.”[iii] Leadership have gone passed men’s business alone to women’s business too. Women’s participation in leadership and governance is key to nation building because women are game changers and agents of change.

Men as well as women have equal rights to participate actively in politics. The law makes provision for women’s inclusion and participation in politics especially in a democratic setting. According to Article 21 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights “Everyone has the right to take part in the government of his country, directly or through freely chosen representatives”[iv]. In the same way, Article 2 of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) warns about all forms of discrimination against women. In particular, Article 2 (d) warns people “To refrain from engaging in any act or practice of discrimination against women and to ensure that public authorities and institutions shall act in conformity with this obligation”[v]. Furthermore, Article 2 of the ‘Protocol To The African Charter On Human And Peoples’ Rights On The Rights Of Women In Africa’ still dwelt on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women. Article 9 provides for “Right to Participation in the Political and Decision-Making Process”[vi].

Regardless of these laws and provisions, things are usually different against women both in implementation and practice. Nigeria is still struggling with issues of discrimination, marginalization, lack of trust in women despite practicing democracy for 24 years. Women are still discriminated against, intimidated and the political environment are made difficult for them to actively participate and make headways.  The discriminations vary from lack of financial muscle like men as witnessed in the high cost of nomination forms by political parties. There is unhealth political environment including electoral violence that affect women. In 2019 a woman leader with PDP Mrs Salome Abuh, was a victim of electoral violence; she was burnt alive during the Kogi state gubernatorial election. Her only crime was to have been in active politics as a woman. The issue of indigenization of women political aspirants[vii] is still a constitutional issue; lack of trust and the wrong perception the society place on women in politics/leadership; unfriendly family psychology/mentality including patriarchy and cultural/religious practices; lack of support from fellow women and lack of self-confidence by women themselves that usually make women to step down for men as witnessed during the political party primaries.

A situation we have in Nigeria where nearly six months to the 2023 general election, only a few women have made it past the level of aspirants to become Political Party Candidates ahead of the elections. According to a report by Leadership Newspaper[viii], there are only 10 female governorship candidates and 24 running mates. This number is not commensurate to the contribution women make in Nigeria. it is too little in a country of 200 million men and women, with women as half of the population. Comparing with 2019, things have not changed from what happened in 2019 elections. According to a report by CDD, “…female political representation in the 2019 elections was negligible relative to the approximately half of the population they constitute. 2,970 women were on the electoral ballot, representing only 11.36% of nominated candidates…”[ix]

To say that “An essential tenet of any democratic framework is the principle of human rights, including the granting and exercise of the political rights of both men and women”[x], the questions to ask are, where lies the rights, where lies the preaching of inclusion, where lies the democracy?

Nigeria keeps forgetting that including “Women as leaders and decision-makers at all levels are critical to advancing gender justice and gender equality – and to furthering economic, social, and political progress for all, … when countries increase the number of women engaged in all levels of government, there is greater governmental attention to and funding for the issues that affect the lives of ordinary citizens.”[xi] It is only when women are actively involved that some decisions can be inclusive enough to accommodate an even development with diverse views towards programs and policies to achieve the dividends of democracy and good governance.

The campaign for 35% affirmative action for women will not go on for a very long time. It is time to consider the zipper system which advocates for 50/50%. “The zipper system is a principle of alternation, which entails that parties alternate between women and men on party lists to secure that women are half of the candidates as well as possibly also half of the elected”[xii].  Political parties in Nigeria should be ready to give women equal chance to come up to speed. This is achievable through Political Parties guidelines, manifestos and constitutions to reflect equal considerations for women. Zipper system should be promoted with policies and practices at national, state, Local Government and Ward levels.

The importance of girl child education cannot be over emphasized. Nigeria must continue to promote the education of women and build their confidence and capacity to be better positioned to take up public offices. Nigeria can compare notes and learn from countries like Estonia. It is reported that 90% of Estonia populations, including women, “Estonia has one of the highest levels of educational attainment…Women’s and men’s tertiary attainments differ markedly however: 45% of 25-64 year-old women had attained tertiary education, … while men’s attainment was 28%”[xiii]. Therefore, government and Education policy makers in Nigeria should revisit the content and syllabus for teaching Civic Education in schools while they come up with more tutorials that can start building up girls with the understanding that they should not only arm to become wives to men in elective positions but can be the ones in the position with the support of their husbands.

Electoral violence is a contributing factor to voter apathy during elections. This is in addition to the number of hours spent at the polling units on election day. Another issue is the fact the Electoral Act insists that voters must vote at the polling unit where they registered. These affect nursing mothers and elderly women. However, this is not so with online system. The physical voting system practiced in Nigeria has its disadvantages for pregnant women, nursing mothers and the elderly. According to The Conversation in the case of Canada 2019 election that “The requirement that House of Commons members are expected to vote in person, instead of via electronic voting, is a policy that discourages those recovering from childbirth or with care-giving responsibilities from seeking political office”[xiv]. Women in Nigeria, both as electorates and political actors will better embrace the online voting as they can vote from the comfort of their homes without bothering on issues of electoral violence. This will also reduce danger the of travels that happen during election period which women are not be able to meet up with.

Civil Society Organizations (CSO) have the role of continuous advocacy, lobbying, and conducting capacity building for Women. As the watchdog in the democratic process, CSO need to do more on their engagement with the government and the National Assembly through issue-based advocacy to improve women’s participation. On the part of the Government, Government should not neglect the contribution of CSO on any gender equality decision or policies. Nevertheless, CSOs also have roles to play in building the capacity of interested women who have shown interest but do not believe in themselves enough to compete with their male counterparts. More training on Gender Equality for women in politics in Nigeria is very essential. The message should go beyond affirmative action but 50/50% for both men and women, knowing that women have the required capacity as their male counterparts.

Integrity is naturally part of what is required of women in elective positions. Women should always strive to uphold the culture of integrity and also build the confidence of upcoming women through mentorship and capacity building. Women should support other women to succeed.

As submitted by Ambassador Eileen Chamberlain Donahoe during the Human Rights Council 21st Session, Geneva, September 20, 2012, nations are more peaceful and prosperous when women are given adequate, as well as equal rights and opportunities as their male counterparts.[xv] The clamor for increase in women participation in leadership position in Nigeria will continue to improve only with consistent efforts of different stakeholders including the Government, Civil Society Organizations, the Legislature, Political Parties and by women themselves, with the cooperation of the electorates. Political parties should review their manifestos, constitution and practices to accommodate more women in elective and appointive positions. Nigeria should continue to aspire on gender equality in accordance with human rights obligations as enshrined in different AU and UN instruments that they have ratified because women are part of the people in democratic system of government.

[i] https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/democracy

[ii] https://en.unesco.org/courier/novembre-1992/what-democracy

[iii] Statement of the Embassy of the United States of America on Representation of Women in Elected Office <https://lr.usembassy.gov/statement-of-the-embassy-of-the-united-states-of-america-on-representation-of-women-in-elected-office/

[iv] Universal Declaration of Human Rights < https://www.ohchr.org/EN/UDHR/Documents/UDHR_Translations/eng.pdf

[v] Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women https://www.ohchr.org/en/professionalinterest/pages/cedaw.aspx

[vi] Protocol To The African Charter On Human And Peoples’ Rights On The Rights Of Women In Africa https://www.un.org/en/africa/osaa/pdf/au/protocol_rights_women_africa_2003.pdf

[vii] Ugwuegede, P.N., (2014). Challenges to Women Active Participation in Politics in Nigeria

Sociology and Anthropology 2(7): 284-290, 2014 DOI: 10.13189/sa.2014.020704  (pages 286-288)

https://www.hrpub.org/download/20141001/SA4-19690095.pdf

[viii] https://leadership.ng/2023-10-female-governorship-candidates-24-running-mates-emerge/

[ix] CDD (2021). How Women Fared in the 2019 Elections (page 2) https://www.cddwestafrica.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/How-Women-Fared-in-the-2019-Elections-CDD_2.pdf

[x] IDEA (2005). Women in Parliament: Beyond Numbers, A Revised Edition. Trydells Tryckeri AB, Sweden. ISBN: 91-85391-19-0

[xi] Statement of the Embassy of the United States of America on Representation of Women in Elected Office <https://lr.usembassy.gov/statement-of-the-embassy-of-the-united-states-of-america-on-representation-of-women-in-elected-office/

[xii] European Parliament (2013). Directorate General For Internal Policies Policy Department C: Citizens’ Rights And Constitutional Affairs Gender Equality Electoral Gender Quota Systems and their Implementation in Europe (page 18) <https://www.europarl.europa.eu/RegData/etudes/note/join/2013/493011/IPOL-FEMM_NT(2013)493011_EN.pdf#page=20&zoom=100,0,0

[xiii] Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) (2014). Education at a Glance 2014: Country Note – Estonia.  < http://www.oecd.org/education/Estonia-EAG2014-Country-Note.pdf>

[xiv] The Conversation (2020). How e-voting could close Canada’s political gender gap. < https://theconversation.com/how-e-voting-could-close-canadas-political-gender-gap-136163

[xv] According to a statement by the Delegation of the United States
Ambassador Eileen Chamberlain Donahoe during the Human Rights Council 21st Session, Geneva, September 20, 2012, https://geneva.usmission.gov/2012/09/20/countries-are-more-peaceful-and-prosperous-when-women-are-accorded-equal-rights-and-opportunities/

There are a lot of push and pull factors responsible for these; according to the United Nations Development Programme’s 2017 report cites human rights abuses, social, political and economic marginalization, unemployment, and religious ideology as among the top reasons for people joining groups such as Boko Haram and ISWAP.

The one-day intensive training focused on Nigeria’s national action plan on preventing and countering violent extremism which succinctly titled “partnering for safer and resilient communities”, Understanding Ideologies and Amplifying counter-narrative “The Role of CSOs, Media and youths”

Jaye Gaskia spoke on UNDERSTANDING AND IMPLEMENTING THE NATIONAL PCVE ACTION PLAN FOR NIGERIA, surprising many CSOs and some members of the Media were not aware of the policy framework of government on how to combat PCVE in Nigeria.

Mr. Auwal Muhammed, a representative from the Counter-Terrorism Centre; Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) spoke on prevailing Ideologies that drive people towards radicalization, while Mr. Bassey Bassey; The Executive Director HipcityHub spoke on communication strategies on how to amplify counter-narratives.

The workshop was well attended by Media practitioners, Youths, Civil Society Organizations notable among them are @cleenfoundation @SocialAction Cdd Platform The Guardian Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria.