In this keynote address, Dr. Otive Igbuzor makes a compelling case for social movement organising as a vital tool for poverty eradication and achieving social justice in Nigeria. Delivered at the launch of ActionAid Nigeria’s 2024–2034 Country Strategy Paper, the address reviews Nigeria’s persistent poverty, growing inequality, and weak governance, calling for grassroots mobilisation to challenge entrenched systems and elite capture. Drawing from global and African social movements, Igbuzor explores theories of change, the role of civil society, and the importance of citizen-led transformation rooted in rights-based approaches and indigenous values.
The publication stresses that social movements alone are not sufficient. It calls for a coalition of transformative leadership, strategic planning, inclusive politics, and developmental nationalism to advance equity and national development. It concludes with a call to action for coordinated, decolonised, and sustained organising, beyond isolated activism, to reshape Nigeria’s political, economic, and social landscape toward justice and dignity for all.
Share this post
