President Bola Tinubu and Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu have urged civil society and community-based organisations to prioritise patriotism and national interest in their engagements. The appeal came during the National Summit of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) and Community-Based Organisations (CBOs) held in Lagos on Wednesday. President Tinubu, represented by Secretary to the Government of the Federation Senator George Akume, described the summit's theme, "Nigeria First and Sustainable Development", as timely and significant. He stressed that national interest must guide all policies, partnerships and public investments, adding that the 'Nigeria First' philosophy supports inclusive, climate-resilient development without promoting isolationism.
Tinubu linked the summit to the Federal Government's Renewed Hope Agenda, citing focus areas such as economic reform, food security, infrastructure, healthcare, education and industrialisation. He identified agriculture, the blue economy, renewable energy and environmental sustainability as sectors where government-CSO partnerships could boost growth and livelihoods. While affirming the government's openness to civil society collaboration, he warned against undue foreign influence, urging organisations to ensure national interest prevails when accepting external funding. "Nigeria First is more than a slogan. It is a call to every citizen, every leader and every institution to place the collective destiny of our nation above narrow considerations of ethnicity, religion, region or partisanship," he said.
Governor Sanwo-Olu described CSOs as vital to democratic governance, acting as bridges between government and citizens. He urged civil society leaders to ensure their advocacy remains factual, constructive and patriotic, warning that inflaming division betrays the communities they serve. He cited Lagos State's institutionalised engagement with CSOs through open budgeting, town halls and consultations on education, healthcare, transport and social welfare. Sanwo-Olu noted that policies developed with public participation are more sustainable. He expressed confidence in Nigeria's resilience, citing its youthful population, entrepreneurial spirit, natural resources and over 27 years of uninterrupted democracy.
Hon. Kunle Yusuf, National Convener of the summit, said the CSO platform coordinates accredited organisations nationwide, with about 6,000 registered CSOs, CBOs and NGOs, many implementing programmes aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
The same government officials calling for patriotic civil society engagement have previously overseen policies that restricted foreign funding for NGOs under the NGO Regulatory Commission Bill. Tinubu's warning against foreign influence contrasts with his administration's reliance on international financial institutions for economic reforms. If national interest means aligning development with global partnerships, then the definition of patriotism in policy circles appears selective. CSOs now face pressure to prove loyalty while operating within tightening regulatory and financial constraints.
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