NIGERIA LAUNCHES REGIONAL PARTNERSHIP FOR DEMOCRACY TO BOOST HOMEGROWN GOVERNANCE IN WEST AFRICA 15-05-25
By Sadiq Aminu The Federal Government has unveiled an initiative, Regional Partnership for Democracy, RPD, targeted at to reinforcing democratic culture in West Africa, promoting peace, stability and homegrown governance models through international partnerships.
At the ongoing Regional Partnership Development Stakeholder Engagement Strategy programme in Abuja, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Maitama Tuggar said democracy in West Africa must be sustained, strengthened and shaped by the sub region, stressing that the Regional Partnership for Democracy (RPD) would address African challenges.
“The RPD is not merely a policy framework. It is a bold assertion that democracy in West Africa must be sustained, strengthened, and most importantly, shaped by us. This partnership is our collective response to the sobering realities that confront our democracies, eroding public trust, fragile institutions, our civic engagement, and in some quarters, a resurgence of unconstitutional rule. Yet, even in the face of these trials, we do not despair. Instead, we resolve to act together, to act deliberately, and to act with the firm conviction that democracy in its most authentic form must reflect our values, our cultures, and our aspirations as Africans. Nigeria recognizes the need for continued solidarity among the countries of the West African sub-region, and indeed Africa as a whole. We’re aware of the impact of exogenous circumstances on some of our neighbors, where, for instance, the 2015 to 2020 EU-Sahel strategy was unfortunately a failure, and the broader consequences of failing to address insecurity across the Sahel are evident,”.
“This is why we must think long term. We must begin now to systematically integrate the objectives of initiatives such as the RPD into our governance structures and regional conversations. Only through consistency, political will, and regional ownership can we truly establish a culture of democracy that is resilient and inclusive”.
“RPD is designed as a flexible, regionally owned platform. It is not a one-size-fits-all prescription, but rather a cooperative space for member states to define their reform paths anchored in shared norms. It complements and strengthens our commitments under the African Union Charter on Democracy, aiming to support each country as it works at its own pace”.
The Minister explained that the Nigeria-owned venture was a collaborative platform for Government, civil society and international partners to strengthen democracy across the region.
The minister identified factors that had placed democracy in the region under pressure to include the failure to address poor governance at the local level and the lack of effective representation, particularly at the grassroots level.
“It is our vision that through the RPD, we will support electoral systems that reflect the will of our people, empower civic actors to participate fully and responsibly, and reinforce the accountability of the executive, legislature, judiciary, and oversight institutions. But more than that, we envision a partnership that thrives on peer learning, where our countries become each other’s teachers and students, drawing from lived experiences and shaping a governance model that is homegrown, dynamic, and resilient”.
The United Nations Development Program, UNDP Nigeria Resident Representative, Mrs. Elsie Attafuah, while commending Nigeria for the initiative, described it as a model driven by mutual respect, shared vision, and a commitment to a regional transformation from within.
“It is a proudly Nigerian-led, but regionally-focused effort to strengthen democracy, deepen civic education, and ensure resilient, inclusive governance systems. We commend His Excellency the President for the bold and visionary leadership, and equally applaud the Minister for translating that vision into reality through strategic collaboration with the United Nations Development Program”.
“This is a model of national-international cooperation driven by mutual respect, shared vision, and a commitment to a regional transformation from within,”.
“As UNDP, we bring a strong value proposition to this initiative. A presence in all the West African countries, a deep expertise in governance, institution building, and civic education and engagement, and a robust global network to enable South-to-South learning and cooperation. We are fully committed to supporting member states through this journey,”.
One of the resource persons at the event, Professor Kamil Kamaludeen, said the RPD would help ensure democracy was integrated into African culture but called for intensified cooperation.
Also, the Chairman House Committee on Foreign Affairs, Hon Oluwole Oke, described RPD as timely.
The foreign embassies represented at the event while pledging support for the initiative, described democratic challenges as global and emphasized the need for sustained education of the democracy.