By Victor Nwegede, Abakaliki.
The Co-chairman of CSOs and founder of Neighborhood Environment Watch (NEW) Foundation, Dr Kelechi Okezie made the call during the flag-off of the Ebonyi Coalition of CSOs' summit on Thursday in Abakaliki, the State capital.
Dr Okozie noted that a healthy partnership with the government would strengthen the activities of CSOs in the state, especially in stimulating societal progress.
He, however, urged the members of the State Coalition of CSOs to plummet the obsolete philosophy of not seeing anything reasonable about the government, instead, they should recognize strategic partners with talent, connection, and better service for sustainable development in society.
While commending the Ebonyi State government for creating a peaceful atmosphere for CSOs to operate in the State, he emphasized the need for more support from the individuals and organisations especially the donor agencies to support legitimate bodies among them to drive societal gains forward.
He said: "When CSOs and the government work in synergy, society gains, and this is the idea behind SDG 17 and the OGP partnership.
"We also call on the government to be supportive of truly independent, legitimate, and active CSOs with notable achievement and with a track record of democratic culture of electing their leaders and of transparency and public trust."
Recall that currently, the Ebonyi State Coalition of CSOs has 52 independent, legitimate and active civil society groups as members.
The coalition has been at the vanguard of driving positive change and providing community services in the
State, seeking more partnerships for further development.
