10/07/2026
Advancing Sustainable Development Through Civil Society Collaboration
I had the privilege of joining fellow Civil Society Organisations from 16 Southern States at the Southern Civil Society Organisations Summit 2026, representing the Lagos delegation.
The summit brought together key stakeholders to strengthen collaboration, promote citizen engagement, and foster partnerships that will accelerate sustainable development across Nigeria.
We were honoured to receive the welcome address from His Excellency Babajide sanwolu, the Governor of Lagos State while the President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu was represented by
Senator George Akume, the current Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) of Nigeria
The conference was held on Wednesday, July 8, 2026, at the Oriental Hotel, the summit was themed "Nigeria First."
As we continue to champion the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), gatherings like this reinforce the importance of SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions) and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals) by creating platforms for dialogue, collaboration, accountability, and collective action.
Together, we can build a more inclusive, resilient, and sustainable Nigeria where no one is left behind.
Dr. Alexander Akhigbe
Founder, African Cleanup Initiative
