Preamble
Participants at the 1st Kano Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) Conference, held from 15–16 September 2025 at Khalifa Isyaku Rabiu University (KHAIRUN), Kano, facilitated by the Kano State Ministry of Information and Internal Affairs with the support of the Government of Kano State, and with the active participation of government institutions, civil society actors, security agencies, development partners, academia, and the media, met and deliberated on the critical roles of CSOs in strengthening democratic governance, open government, climate action, resilience, social cohesion, and sustainable development in Kano State.
The participants recognize the historic significance of this gathering as a milestone in reshaping and redefining the relationship between government and civil society from adversarial to collaborative, signaling a new era of co-creation, mutual relationship, accountability, and citizen-driven governance.
The participants unanimously express profound appreciation to the Government of Kano State under the leadership of His Excellency Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf for its generous support towards organizing this historic gathering and for fostering an enabling, CSO-friendly atmosphere across the state.
The participants strongly appreciate governor’s interest in receiving the communique of the conference and his pledge to integrate some of its contents in state policy.
The participants also affirmed that the Kano State government's openness, transparency, and partnership stand as a model for inclusive governance in Nigeria.
The participants also collectively extended special gratitude to the Honourable Commissioner for Information and Internal Affairs, Comrade Ibrahim Abdullahi Waiya, for his unalloyed commitment and dedication to civil society and for personally facilitating the State’s support for the successful hosting of the Conference. His vision, hands-on engagement, and bridge-building efforts have not only made this event possible but have also strengthened the bonds between government and civil society for the collective good of Kano State.
Major Observations
• Open Governance and Accountability: The Government of Kano State under Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf has embarked on reforms reflecting global best practices: transparent procurement, e-monitoring of projects, local government financial autonomy, gender-sensitive appointments, and adoption of the Open Government Partnership (OGP) framework.
• Civil Society as Third Sector: Civil society complements public and private sectors by providing checks and balances, mobilizing communities, and safeguarding citizens' rights. Yet, CSOs face capacity, funding, and coordination challenges that limit their impact.
• Security, Social Cohesion, and Conflict Sensitivity: Sustainable peace in Kano requires closer collaboration between CSOs, security agencies, and communities to address root causes of insecurity, foster dialogue, and build trust.
• Climate Action, Resilience, and Environmental Justice: Climate change disproportionately affects vulnerable populations in Kano. Addressing it demands inclusive governance, community-driven adaptation, and equitable access to climate finance.
• Need for Structured Partnerships: Without clear frameworks, feedback loops, and enabling laws, collaboration between government and CSOs remains ad hoc. Institutional mechanisms are essential for sustaining trust and joint action.
Resolutions
After extensive deliberation, the conference resolved as follows:
1. Strengthening Open Government and Access to Information
• That the government of Kano State shall fast-track the implementation of the Freedom of Information Law in Kano State.
• That the government of Kano State shall facilitate the establishment of a Kano State CSO-Government Partnership Charter, as well as establish the Civil Society Desks in all MDAs to institutionaland feedback.
• That the government of Kano State shalI integrate Open Government Partnership (OGP) principles into state policies and medium-term development plans to ensure sustainability beyond political cycles.
• Enhance disclosure of budgetary, contract, and project data in open, machine-readable formats.
• government shall continue to support the organization of this kind of conference on an annual basis to further strengthen the continuation of constructive relationships between government and CSOs.
2. Enhancing Accountability and Oversight
I. CSOs act as transparent, neutral watchdogs, providing timely feedback and constructive recommendations on government projects and policies.
II. Government to facilitate the implementation of regulatory frameworks that align NGO operations with Kano State’s vision and development goals.
III. Domesticate the National Senior Citizens Act (2017) and the National Senior Citizen Centre Policy (2020) to safeguard the rights and welfare of the elderly.
3. Capacity Building and Sustainable Financing
I. There shall be massive investment in training CSOs, especially in public financial management, procurement cycles, budget analysis, ICT for monitoring, data analysis, and advocacy strategies.
II. There is an urgent need to foster partnerships between CSOs, media, academia, and reform-minded officials to amplify findings and co-create solutions.
III. There is an urgent need to mobilize long-term, flexible funding from development partners and local philanthropists to ensure CSO independence and sustainability.
4. Security, Social Cohesion, and Conflict Sensitivity
I. Strengthen collaboration between CSOs, security agencies, and communities to implement Early Warning, Early Response (EWER) systems, community policing initiatives, and peacebuilding programmes.
II. Promote dialogue across ethnic, religious, and cultural divides to turn diversity into a source of strength and resilience rather than conflict.
III. Embed conflict sensitivity and mutual respect as guiding principles of all partnerships.
5. Climate Action, Resilience, and Environmental Justice
I. Mainstream climate change adaptation, mitigation, and environmental justice into state policies and CSO programmes.
II. Support community-led climate initiatives such as climate-smart agriculture, renewable energy projects, nature-based solutions, and Early Warning, Early Response (EWER) systems.
III. Improve grassroots access to climate finance and integrate gender and equity lenses in all climate interventions.
IV. Establish multi-stakeholder platforms for climate dialogue and monitoring, ensuring vulnerable groups are not left behind.
6. Deepening Collaboration and Policy Direction
I. Government to develop a comprehensive state-level CSO policy framework outlining expectations, priority sectors, and partnership modalities.
II. Institutionalize regular consultative forums, technical working groups, and joint task forces between government and CSOs.
III. Recognize and reward high-performing CSOs to incentivize innovation, transparency, and alignment with state development priorities.
IV. CSOs to form thematic coalitions (youth empowerment, health, education, climate, security) to prevent duplication and amplify advocacy.
7. Co-Creation, Feedback, and Learning
I. Develop permanent feedback platforms where the government can identify gaps and CSOs can provide real-time input.
II. Build mechanisms for monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEL) to allow partnerships to adapt to emerging challenges.
III. Promote transparent communication, knowledge sharing, and inclusive participation of youth, women, and marginalized communities.
Conclusion:
This Communique reflects our collective commitment to build a Kano State where governance is transparent, climate action is just, security is community-driven, and civil society is empowered as a co-architect of democracy. We pledge to sustain the momentum of this conference beyond rhetoric by translating these resolutions into concrete actions, resilient networks, inclusive laws, and innovative governance structures that will shape a more equitable, sustainable, and secure future for all residents of Kano State.
Members of Conference Communique Committee
• Dr. Saminu Umar Chairperson
• Bilkisu Ado Zango
• Isiyaku Ahmed
• Abdulrahman Abdu Daushe
• Comrade Ali Wali Secretary
Signed:
Secretariat
