Reporting Back: Civicus World Assembly- Scotland, 18th to 21st June 2008.

The Nigeria Network of NGOs (NNNGO) joined over 400 civil society organizations from some 100 countries of the world to share, learn and engage one another on global and national issues at the 8th Civicus World Assembly held in Scotland from the 18th to the 21st of June 2008.

Bringing together a fantastic array of activists, thinkers, “policy movers and shakers” the assembly provided participants with the opportunity to reflect on the shrinking space of the 3rd sector including the growing need for in-depth partnerships at all levels of our work.

Joining us at the assembly this year were our recently released Ethiopian brothers-Daniel Bekele and Netsanet Demissie who were jailed for over two years for standing up against injustice in Ethiopia, their presence provided a renewed hope for our collective action in fighting against injustice.

Members of the Civicus Affinity Group of National Associations (AGNA) had their 2008 annual general meeting during the assembly with NNNGO elected to the steering committee as Africa’s representative alongside the Gambia. In June 2003 CIVICUS announced the establishment of an Affinity Group of National NGO Associations. The Affinity Group is designed to strengthen the key role that these associations play in fostering a strong and vibrant civil society.

The over 400 participants at the assembly took to the streets of Scotland on a peaceful rally to mark the 60th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, with Mary Robinson (one of the Elders and former President of the Republic of Ireland) leading the rally while also sharing her thoughts on “righting many of the human right wrongs”.

Activities of members of NNNGO (in good standing) were showcased to participants present at the assembly with a view to raising their profile. The next Civicus World Assembly holds in Montreal Canada from August 28th to 31 2009. Visit http://www.civicusmontreal.org  regularly for further information on the 2009 assembly and www.civicusassembly.org  for updates on the 2008 assembly.

NNNGO gives Nigerians 4C's against Corruption.

Speaking at the recently concluded Grand finale and Presentation ceremony of the Access Possibilities program, the Nigeria Network of NGOs through its Trustee- Ms Yemisi Ransome-Kuti has unveiled NNNGO's 4C's to national development namely: Character, Commitment, Capacity and Courage

In her keynote speech with the theme "MDGs# 1 fulfilling an uphill vision", Yemisi noted that the attainment of MDGs#1 requires both individual and civic responsibilities through holding governments at all levels accountable to their promises while also speaking out against corruption.

She further stated that one of the major requirements for meeting and exceeding the MDGs#1 in Nigeria is zero tolerance against corruption, ethics and value re-orientation, reform of the public sector among others.

NNNGO meets with the National Council for Voluntary Organizations (NCVO) in London

As part of its partnership with NCVO- the umbrella body for voluntary organizations in the UK, NNNGO met with staffs of the organization from the 16th to the 17th of June 2008 to share and to learn from each other on different strategies capable of assisting both organizations in their work and in carrying their partnership forward.

NNNGO's partnership with NCVO over the last three years has provided her with the opportunity to learn and share from the over 80 years experience that resides within NCVO and its staff while also furthering the North-South partnership side of its development agenda.

Founded in 1919, NCVO is the largest umbrella body for the voluntary and community sector in England with sister councils in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

NNNGO is an international member of NCVO- http://www.ncvo-vol.org.uk/about

NNNGO Campaign

NNNGO launches campaign on UN High-Level Summit

In 2000, at the UN Millennium Summit, 189 countries signed up to the Millennium Development Goals. Eight years later, and with seven years to go before 2015, some limited progress has been made but overall progress is woefully short of what is required and in some places the situation has deteriorated since the goals were adopted. Indeed, ever since the adoption of the MDGs many civil society organisations have argued that the Goals themselves do not go far enough and far stronger commitments must be made to eradicate poverty and inequality and to ensure gender justice.

At the World Economic Forum’s annual meeting in Davos in January, an assembled meeting of dignitaries including Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, Gordon Brown, Queen Rania, the President of Nigeria, Bill Gates and Bono announced a Call to Action on the MDGs which calls on the international community to use 2008 to pledge again to the MDGs and make concrete commitments to deliver.

The climax of the ‘Call to Action’ will be High-Level Event (HLE) for world leaders at the United Nations on 25 September, during the UN General Assembly. The Call to Action will focus on a number of themes Poverty and Hunger; Education and Health; Environmental Sustainability; Gender; Partnership for Development (including ODA).

To date the pledges to meet the Millennium Declaration and efforts to tackle poverty, inequality, injustice and deliver sustainable development have been grossly inadequate. From this month (July) leading up to the 25th of September and beyond the Nigeria Network of NGOs (NNNGO) will run series of campaign activities aimed at putting pressure on our Government to: Read more
 

Pan-African Day of Solidarity for Zimbabwe: Saturday, 12 July 2008

Following a call by CIVICUS, Amnesty International and the Global Call for Action against Poverty (GCAP), citizens of Africa across the continent will unite to express their solidarity with the people of Zimbabwe who are suffering persistent violations of their rights. The widespread killings, torture and intimidation of the political opposition that characterised the presidential election run-off on 27 June cannot be condoned under any circumstances. “By flagrantly and consistently violating the values upon which present day Africa is premised, Mr Mugabe has done great disservice to the people of Zimbabwe and the continent. We believe it is the responsibility of all Africans to urgently put a stop to Mr Mugabe’s anti-democratic activities” said Kumi Naidoo, Honorary President of CIVICUS. For more information... Read more

Climate Change and Development, 1-12 September 2008, Norwich, UK

Climate change has profound implications for developing countries, and increasingly development professionals and agency staff working in or for developing countries are being asked to integrate climate change management issues into planning, projects and policy. National governments also are increasingly engaged in official communications to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and other initiatives, which require assessment of vulnerability and adaptive capacity. The purpose of this interactive short course is to equip participants with a comprehensive understanding of what climate change may mean for low-income populations and what the scope and prospects are for adapting to change in a development context. For more information... Read more

Member of the Month- Visions for Nigeria Foundation

Visions for Nigeria Foundation is a non governmental, non
religious, non profit making volunteer organization, involved
in numerous socio-humanitarian projects aimed at making a
positive contribution to the growth of our nation, Nigeria.
Volunteer action was at the heart of the concept of Visions
for Nigeria Foundation when it was founded in January 2002,
and was later fully registered with the Corporate Affairs
Commission to compliment government efforts by providing
services that are not available from the government and are
beyond the means of individual citizens and communities Read more