What role do CSOs play in getting more citizens to take part in their civic duty/action?

How can the creative industries galvanize more participation?

Civic engagement and citizen participation are vital for the development of a thriving society. What does it take to drive civic engagement and citizen participation? How do CSOs encourage civic engagement? How can creative industries galvanize more participation? These were some of the questions that we attempted to answer at the IFRA conference on Jun 2, 2023 Demography: For a Citizen Use of Numbers. Nigeria’s demographic dividend: predictions, census tools, and practical applications. The Sahara Centre was invited to a multi-sectoral conversation with other speakers from the National Population Commission (Dr. Ojogun Osifo), the University of Ibadan (Prof. Oka Obono), the College de France, the National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies (Prof. Francois Heran), and Sodiq Adelakun, a visual journalist. The sessions were moderated by Tabia Princewill, a political advisor.

Demography looks at the structure of a population and how that changes over time, including its migrations, births, and deaths. The demographic dividend is the potential for economic growth when a country’s working-age population is larger than its dependent population.  Nigeria, with its youthful population (estimates show that  53.7%  to 60 percent of the Nigerian population is between the ages of 15-64), has the opportunity to leverage this dividend for economic development. However, to maximize its benefits, a comprehensive understanding of population dynamics and strategic planning is essential.

 

Demography goes beyond statistics and includes the moral ecosystem and belief system, which the society’s response to demographic structures can have negative or positive implications. There is a need to understand the population, its composition, and structure, and start to strategize on how to create a vision of the future that can ensure more of the population can contribute to the growth of the economy. This is where censuses come in.  The 2006 census is the latest census conducted in Nigeria, although another census is to be conducted in 2023, and there are steps in the planning process.

 

How do we get more citizens engaged with the census process?

 

Effective communication of the demographic dividend is crucial to garnering public support. CSOs can play a vital role in explaining the significance of population data and censuses through compelling storytelling and engaging narratives. This helps individuals comprehend the importance of census participation and how it directly impacts their lives and well-being.

 

But then, there’s a trust deficit that needs to be repaired. CSOs need to establish transparent processes, open dialogue, and accountability to foster trust within Nigerian society. By ensuring that citizens’ voices are heard and their concerns are addressed, CSOs can encourage greater participation in civic activities and bridge the trust deficit.

To enhance civic engagement, it is essential to create platforms that facilitate collaboration and eliminate duplication of effort. Mapping and aligning CSOs’ initiatives according to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) can strengthen collaboration, allowing for comprehensive and impactful initiatives. This promotes synergy among different organizations, government agencies, and ministries.

What can the creative industries do to amplify these efforts?

The creative industries possess unique potential to galvanize civic participation. Through art, media, storytelling, and innovative approaches, the creative industries can capture attention, evoke emotions, and spark meaningful conversations around important societal issues. Leveraging these creative avenues can inspire citizens to actively engage and contribute to Nigeria’s development agenda.

How to drive civic engagement:

Here are four ways to drive civic engagement, according to  Citizen Lab:

• Storytelling and emotional connection: Using narratives that resonate with people’s experiences and emotions.
• Clarity and purpose: Clearly articulating the goals and outcomes of civic engagement initiatives.
• Interactive engagement: Ensuring that engagement activities allow for meaningful interaction and participation from citizens.
• Continuous communication: Keeping citizens informed about the progress and impact of their engagement, emphasizing that it is an ongoing journey.

Driving civic engagement and citizen participation in Nigeria requires concerted efforts from CSOs, government agencies, ministries, private sectors, and the creative industries. By fostering awareness, building trust, creating collaborative platforms, and leveraging the power of the creative industries, Nigeria can unlock its demographic dividend and promote inclusive and sustainable development. Through collaboration and strategic messaging, Nigeria can inspire citizens to actively participate in shaping the future of the nation.