Y.Z. Ya’u Elected New Convener of Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room
The Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room has elected prominent human rights activist, Y. Z. Ya’u, as its new Convener.
The election, which took place on Friday, December 13, in Abuja, marks a new phase for the coalition of civil society organisations working to promote credible elections, good governance, and the protection of human rights in Nigeria.
In a statement issued by the coalition, the Situation Room said Ya’u’s emergence followed “the collective confidence of civil society organisations in his experience, institutional memory and long-standing commitment to democratic accountability.”
The coalition also announced organisations assigned institutional memory responsibilities. They include ActionAid, the Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD), the CLEEN Foundation, and the Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre (PLAC), which will serve as the Secretariat.
The statement further disclosed that zonal leadership structures have been constituted nationwide to strengthen coordination and grassroots engagement. According to the coalition, the Josemaría Escriva Foundation in Edo State will head the South-South zone, while the Legal Aid and Poverty Development Organisation (LAPDO), Ondo State, will coordinate the South-West.
Similarly, the DIG Foundation will lead the South-East, the Rural Youth Initiative in Kebbi State will oversee the North-West, the Centre for Health and Development in Africa, Adamawa State, will coordinate the North-East, while the Challenged Parenthood Initiative in Kogi State will head the North-Central zone.
The coalition also announced several thematic leads to drive key areas of engagement. These include the Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD), Kano State, for ICT, social media and technology; RULAAC, Lagos State, for security; Proactive Gender Initiatives, Abuja, for youth; the Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities (JONAPWD) for disability and inclusion; the Emma Ezeazu Centre for Good Governance, Abuja, for gender; Habitat Care, Imo State, for environment and climate change; and the Social and Integral Development Centre (SIDEC), Anambra State, for grassroots coverage.
In addition, Mma Odi of the Emma Ezeazu Centre for Good Governance and Celestine Odo of ActionAid were elected as Co-Conveners.
Describing Ya’u, the Situation Room said he is “a leading and long-standing human rights activist of repute,” noting that he currently serves as the Executive Director of CITAD, Kano.
The coalition recalled that Ya’u was active in the struggle against military rule in the 1990s and has continued to play significant roles in Nigeria’s democratic process.
It added that Ya’u had previously served as one of the alternate chairs of the Situation Room between 2018 and 2020, stressing that this is the second time he has been elected Convener, having earlier emerged at the coalition’s strategy meeting held on June 8, 2023.
The Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room is a coalition of civil society organisations committed to promoting credible elections, deepening democratic governance, and advancing human rights in Nigeria.
