In a significant step towards inclusive governance, Inikpi Amodu, a lawyer and the Programs Lead at UNESCO Youth for Dialogue (YOD), was invited as a key young stakeholder to contribute to the critical review of Nigeria’s Social Development Act. The invitation, extended through the European Union-funded CSO Strengthening Bridge Project (EU CSO-Bridge) managed by International IDEA, placed youth voices at the heart of deliberations to reshape the nation’s social development framework.
The National Summit on Repositioning Nigeria’s Social Development Framework convened policymakers, civil society leaders, legislators, and international development partners with a unified mission: to review, revive, and amend an Act that has existed for decades but has been plagued by poor understanding, weak coordination, and limited public awareness.
“This invitation matters, not for prestige, but because this Act fundamentally shapes how Nigeria coordinates social protection, engages civil society, promotes gender inclusion, and supports its most vulnerable groups,” Amodu stated. “Intriguingly, many Nigerians are unaware this Act exists, yet it silently influences the operational landscape for civil society and the structure of social interventions.”
Amodu emphasized that her presence in the high-level forum reaffirmed a core conviction: young people must be architects of the systems they will inherit and live under. Her key takeaways from the summit highlighted the urgent need for coherent coordination within civil society, the critical alignment of policy with on-the-ground practice and people’s needs, and the indispensable role of youth in shaping sustainable governance.
“Social development works best when policy, practice, and people align,” Amodu noted. “I am deeply grateful to the European Union and International IDEA for creating this essential platform and for placing trust in emerging leaders to contribute to such a pivotal national deliberation.”
The summit fostered collaborative dialogue among a diverse array of committed leaders. Amodu shared the space with notable figures including Hon. Victor Obuzor, Chairman of the House Committee on Civil Society Organisations; Hon. Valentina Enih, Enugu State Commissioner for Children, Gender, and Social Development; Dr. Seun Bosede Osamaye, Ondo State Commissioner for Women Affairs; and Mr. Idem Akpan Udoekong, Project Manager of the EU CSO-Bridge Project.
The gathering also included distinguished experts such as Professor Mina Ogbanga of Rivers State University, Dr. Funmi Akinleye of the Accountability and Transparency Initiative, and youth representatives like Amb. Victory Ashaka, Youth Advisor to the European Union.
“This is how sustainable change is built,” Amodu concluded. “Deliberately, collaboratively, and with the right people at the table.” She issued a public call to action, urging Nigerians to familiarize themselves with the Social Development Act, engage in the process, and amplify the discourse to ensure the nation’s social development framework works effectively for everyone.
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About Inikpi Amodu:
Inikpi Amodu is a lawyer and the Programs Lead at UNESCO Youth for Dialogue (YOD), dedicated to empowering young voices and driving innovation in governance and social development. Her work focuses on ensuring meaningful youth participation in policy-making processes.