BUSARI ABBAS2025 in Review: Strengthening Civil Society Across Nigeria and Beyond
In 2025, the Nigeria Network of NGOs advanced its commitment to building a strong, inclusive, and enabling environment for civil society organisations. Through strategic programmes, capacity development initiatives, research, and digital engagement, NNNGO continued to support nonprofits to thrive, collaborate, and deliver meaningful impact.
Advancing Strategic Priorities
Throughout the year, NNNGO implemented key interventions aimed at strengthening institutional capacity and improving the operating environment for civil society. These efforts included localisation research to generate context-driven solutions, strengthening governance systems and membership engagement, and promoting a healthy policy environment for nonprofits and philanthropy.
The Network also played an active role in the EU System for an Enabling Environment (EU-SEE), contributing to initiatives that support civic space and civil society sustainability. Across West Africa, NNNGO supported the West Africa Civil Society Institute (WACSI) to deliver civic space training in Ghana, Nigeria, and Senegal, reinforcing regional collaboration and learning. Nonprofit capacity development initiatives through mentoring and coaching remained central to strengthening organisational effectiveness.
Our Projects Include:
👉Localisation Research
Targeted at creating solutions to the realities, challenges, opportunities, and readiness of local civil society actors within Nigeria’s humanitarian and development ecosystem.
👉Strengthening Governance, Membership Engagement & Institutional Capacity
Targeted at deepening member engagement, improving board governance, and expanding internal human resource and MEAL capacities.
👉Civic Space Protection & Accountability
Targeted at strengthening civic freedoms, improve nonprofit regulatory understanding, and enhance the accountability of state institutions toward Nigeria’s human rights commitments with key interventions and achievements including the development of a Policing Protest Toolkit.
👉Civil Society Mapping and Capacity Assessment in Nigeria
Targeted at mapping the CSO landscape to identify and categorise CSOs by formation geographic spread, thematic focus, and funding sources and assessing capacity needs to evaluate institutional, operational, programmatic, regulatory, technological, resource mobilisation, strategic planning, and digital protection capacities, while documenting the challenges they face in fulfilling their mission.
👉Nigerian Nonprofit Capacity Building Trainings
Targeted at enhancing NGO governance, compliance, project management, financial accountability, and organisational sustainability, ensuring that beneficiary organisations are better equipped to deliver impactful and transparent services to the communities they serve.
👉The EU System for an Enabling Environment (EU-SEE)
Targeted at strengthening national monitoring, analysis, and advocacy relating to the enabling environment for civil society.
👉The Civic Space Resource Hub
Targeted at developing the capacities of civil society organisations in Nigeria, Ghana, and Senegal.
Growing and Engaged Membership
NNNGO’s membership base continued to expand in 2025, reaching a total of 4,073 member organisations. These members span across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones, with strong representation in the South-West, South-South, and North-Central regions, alongside non-Nigerian members.
Capacity strengthening remained a priority, with 585 organisations trained across 36 states, equipping civil society actors with skills to improve governance, accountability, and programme delivery.
Expanding Digital Reach and Engagement
Digital platforms remained a powerful tool for connection and advocacy. In 2025, NNNGO’s content reached over 2.5 million people across social media platforms, generating close to one million engagements. The Network also grew its WhatsApp Channel to 289,653 followers, enabling direct and timely engagement with members and stakeholders.
Through SMS outreach, 9,487 recipients were reached with targeted information and updates, ensuring accessibility beyond social media platforms.
Website Performance and Knowledge Sharing
NNNGO’s website continued to serve as a central hub for information and resources. During the year, the website recorded 202,023 visits from 145,118 unique visitors, alongside 2.6 million hits and 483,000 Google searches. Knowledge sharing remained strong, with 8,449 reports downloaded, reflecting sustained demand for data, research, and sector insights.
Partnerships That Made the Impact Possible
Progress in 2025 was made possible through collaboration with valued partners and funders committed to strengthening civil society. These partnerships supported research, capacity development, civic space initiatives, and institutional strengthening across Nigeria and the region. Many thanks to NEAR, FORUS, Heinrich Böll Stiftung, WACSI, TY Danjuma Foundation Partnership, African Philanthropy Forum, Action for Sustainable Development, Agence Francais De Developpemnt
Looking Ahead
As the Network reflects on the achievements of 2025, the focus remains on deepening impact, strengthening partnerships, and advancing an enabling environment for civil society in 2026. With a growing membership and expanding reach, NNNGO remains committed to supporting nonprofits to drive sustainable development and social change.
CHEERS TO 2026!!!
