Lagos, Nigeria, November 18, 2013/ — The 13th Annual Conference of the Nigeria Network of NGOs will take place on the 27th November in Lagos, designed to help civil society organizations in Nigeria identify alternative opportunities for funding their activities.

Felix Obanubi, State Team Leader for the State Accountability and Voice Initiative (SAVI) of the UK Department for International Development (DFID) will be joined by Amy Oyekunle, Executive Director, KIND, Elizabeth Olofin, Executive Director, FATE Foundation and Mosun Layode, Executive Secretary WINBIZ among others to discuss and debate the future of the development sector, share ideas on funding alternatives and future of funding for the sector.

With the economic crisis and the struggle amongst civil society organization’s to keep up with development demands, can alternative sources of funding fill the gap in substituting for traditional donor funding? We have seen a reflection of how non traditional funding sources can drive sustainability and growth for the 3rd sector, following through on this will be a workshop led by Yemisi Joel-Osebor, Lagos State Manager Growth & Employment in States (GEMS3) to train participants on the topic “fundraising and social media: stimulating the growth of our sector”.

More than 120 experts including senior executives from donor, private, non-governmental and government organizations will convene to discuss the theme “Evolving with our Sector: Finding Alternatives to Funding our Work”. Speaking on the 2011 money laundering act and its implications for the non-profit sector is Mr. Bala Sanga, Director, Special Control Unit on Money Laundering (SCUML) of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

At the conference, delegates will focus on how best to address issues hampering funding for the 3rd sector and jointly identify practical solutions that will facilitate a more coordinated funding approach to the work non-governmental organization’s in Nigeria are doing.

“We aspire to grow our sector from strength to strength and as the voice for the common man. The NNNGO Annual Conference as always will encourage networking and collaboration among all stakeholders in order to improve our work as a sector,” says Oyebisi Babatunde Oluseyi, Executive Director, NNNGO.

Last year, attendees of the Annual Conference came from the six geopolitical zones of the country, delivering the key note address was Ambassador Joe Keshi Former Permanent Secretary Ministry of Foreign Affairs; other speakers include Former CEO Oxfordshire Equality and Human Rights Council Patrick Tolani, Former Pan African Relationships Manager Plan International Dr Abiola Tilley-Gyado, Henrietta Onwuegbuzie Pan African University and President African Citizens Development Foundation Otunba Dele Ajayi-Smith.

The Nigeria Network of NGOs (NNNGO) is looking for volunteers to help out on a mobilization and sensitization project from September to December 2013. Application deadline is 11th September 2013 Download form…

Lagos, Nigeria, April 29, 2013/– In today’s world, the use of air transportation by non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to move between States and Countries in the conduct of their businesses is not new. It is today increasingly common to see NGOs incurring so much on air travel and also requesting for funding support on costs associated with air travel.

Recognizing the need to support NGOs in Nigeria in being able to use air transportation without “breaking the bank”, NNNGO Executive Director Oyebisi Babatunde Oluseyi announced today that the Nigeria Network of NGOs has concluded arrangements to sell air tickets to NGOs in Nigeria at huge discounts. This will provide the wider NGO community with better savings on air travel and also the flexibility to pay in installments.

“This historic initiative confirms my belief that by creatively working with the private sector within a socially beneficial business model, we can as NGOs continue to fund our activities alternatively without having to rely heavily on donor funding. This first-of-its-kind support will help us to further deepen our support to NGOs in meeting their organizational objectives,” said Oyebisi Babatunde Oluseyi

Speaking at a media launch, NNNGO’s Communications Director Kunle Idowu said “the NNNGO ticketing facility will allow NGOs in Nigeria to buy airline tickets round the clock and at reduced prices while also offering NNNGO members huge discounts. We are confident that NGOs will save a lot on their air travel when they buy their ticket from NNNGO Travels”.

“Our pay on installment facility will also ensure that NGOs and their staff can buy their tickets for attending international conferences, workshops and seminars including planning for international vacations without stress” noted Kunle Idowu.

Set to debut in May 2013, under the brand name NNNGO Travel, offers expected include air ticketing, hotel booking and payments, visa support services, learning exchange visits and tours. NNNGO has continued to support its members in reducing their overheads in recent years with hotel discounts sourced for its members travelling to Abuja, design and writing of annual report. The Network is presently adding the reduced air ticket cost facility to its range of 3rd sector support products.

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About NNNGO
The Nigeria Network of NGOs (NNNGO) is the first generic membership body for civil society organizations in Nigeria that facilitates effective advocacy on issues of poverty and other developmental issues. Established in 1992, NNNGO represents over 1000 organizations ranging from small groups working at the local level, to larger networks working at the national level.

The Network is charged with the objective of identifying, registering, coordinating, building capacity and mobilizing civil society organizations to promote interconnectivity and bring equity, justice, peace and development to grassroots communities throughout Nigeria, including the implementation of NEEDS, SEEDS, LEEDS and the MDGs.

Our membership includes over 20 national organizations and over 800 membership organizations focusing on different thematic areas of development, all of whom work to support a diverse range of membership communities across the nation. In total our outreach to the third sector in Nigeria is estimated to be in the excess of 2,500 which includes both members and affiliates at national and global levels. NNNGO champions a sector that is accountable, independent and truly representative of giving a voice to the common man. www.nnngo.org