The Ebonyi State Coalition of Civil Society Organisations (EB-CSOs) has called on active civil society groups to strengthen trust, deepen collaboration, and adopt sustainable structures capable of driving long-term impact even amid dwindling donor funding.
This charge was made during the 2025 annual CSOs Week held in Abakaliki, where stakeholders from across the state gathered to discuss the shifting landscape of development financing and the urgent need for organisational resilience.
Delivering the keynote address on the theme, “Building CSOs Sustainability: Responding to Funding Shift,” Dr. Ibia Azu Agwu, a consultant with the National Health Insurance Agency, urged CSOs to embrace innovation and agility.
He emphasized that sustainability would increasingly favor organisations that learn fast, adapt quickly, and collaborate boldly.
“The future belongs to organisations that can evolve with the times. CSOs must be proactive, flexible, and open to new ideas if they hope to remain relevant,” he said.
Other experts, including Dr. Stephen Odoh and Dr. Hillary Nweli, urged organisations to strengthen local partnerships and leverage technology to reduce dependence on international funding.
They stressed that diversifying income streams and working more closely with community-based actors would help CSOs survive beyond donor cycles.
In her welcome address, Mrs. Ugo Nnachi, Co-Chair of the coalition, highlighted the urgency of collaboration in a period when traditional donor funding is shrinking globally.
“Across Nigeria and the world, CSOs are facing unprecedented funding challenges,” she noted.
“New opportunities now require innovation, accountability, and resilience. This conference was designed to help us navigate these realities and reinforce CSOs as partners in governance, service delivery, and community development," he further stated.
Mrs. Nnachi reiterated that civil society groups have played vital roles in strengthening democracy, improving healthcare, promoting good governance, and resolving conflicts.
However, she emphasized that these gains can only be sustained through improved governance systems, transparency, diversified funding, and stronger community ownership.
She added that the summit also aligns with the 2025 16 Days of Activism themed “United to End Digital Violence Against All Women and Girls.”
According to her, the timing offers CSOs an opportunity to amplify advocacy against online abuse and gender-based discrimination.
Coalition members who spoke with journalists including Mrs. Lorieth Nwafor, Barr. Uchenna Nwose, Chief Ewa Eleri, Mrs. Margaret Nworie, and Mr. Francis Nwoba of C-SAGAS Charity Foundation praised the summit for its relevance and impact. They reaffirmed their commitment to promoting community development and strengthening collaboration across sectors.
In his closing remarks, the second Co-Chair of the coalition, Dr. Kelechi Okezie, represented by Mrs. Nnachi, thanked participants for their active engagement.
He encouraged member-organisations to remain connected and committed to shared values of empathy, empowerment, and collective action.
The 2025 CSOs Week, which kicked off with a road walk on November 25, also featured a panel discussion, networking sessions, and a group photograph to mark the end of the summit.
