Initial Concept note draft by Dr. Otive Igbuzor
CONCEPT NOTE FOR THE MARCH 21ST MEETING
1. PREAMBLE
This concept note gives the context of the March 21st meeting, the main issues to be discussed and suggested agenda.
2. CONTEXT OF THE MEETING
The idea for this meeting arose from debates on the Freedom of Information (FOIC) listserve. Many commentators drew attention to the challenges facing Nigeria and concluded that the only solution is a “revolution.” The debate then centred on what kind of and how revolution can take place in Nigeria. One commentator mentioned that there are at least two initiatives currently going on in Nigeria to bring about change: movement for change and movement for social transformation. The debate then shifted to how we can bring about change and the roles that members of the listserve and other progressive Nigerians could play in the process. The idea was then mooted that there should be a meeting to brainstorm on how to change and transform Nigeria.
3. DIVERSITY OF THE FORUM
This meeting is coming from an initiative in a listserve that has diverse members. The diversity of members also means that there are diverse views. But majority of the members of the forum are civil society activists. There are several categorisations of civil society members and their positioning. One very useful one recognises four groups of civil society organisations namely the abolitionists, the transformists, the reformists and the conformists. As we documented elsewhere:
Civil society positioning is influenced by a lot of factors including ideological orientation, leadership, knowledge and training...The Abolitionists argue that the structures and systems in place to deliver on development are illegitimate and constrain freedom and capacity of individuals to bring about development. They recommend the abolition of all structures including governmental structures, private companies, e.t.c. and replacing them with completely new structures. Many of these people will not participate in any government committee or commission because they believe that nothing positive will be achieved until the entire structure is abolished... The Transformists are of the view that that there are fundamental problems with the structures and mechanisms in place to bring about development. They argue that the processes that emanate from the structures and mechanisms are oppressive and exclude the poor. They suggest a fundamental restructuring of the structures and mechanisms to deliver development...The Reformists see nothing fundamentally wrong with the structures and mechanism. They argue that the problem is with leadership and performance. They suggest that good leadership, discipline and proper management can bring about the desired development. The reformists believe in entreism i.e. that they can go into government by whatever means (election or appointment) to bring about the desired changes. The Conformists see nothing wrong with the system. They just want to be part of the system. Their greatest argument is for the involvement of the civil society in governance and development projects. The conformists are always lobbying for positions in government. They are mostly opportunists.
The recognition of the diversity of the listserve will also mean that there will be different understanding on how to bring about change. But one thing that unites all except the conformists is the need for change.
4. MAIN THEME
Flowing from above, the main theme of the meeting will be how to bring about change in Nigeria. The meeting should at least produce a blueprint for change that different categories of persons can relate to and participate in a grand coalition that will ensure that change takes place in Nigeria.
5. PRESENTATIONS
It is proposed that there will be three main presentations. After a lead presentation, there should be at least two discussants for each presentation. The three suggested topics are:
a. Strategies for Change: This presentation will propose strategies that will bring about change in Nigeria taking into consideration international and Nigerian context. It will draw from experiences of other countries that have mobilised for and organised change. It will look at known strategies such as participation in formal institutions; campaigns, protests & boycotts; alliance building; movement building and political party organising and recommend given our Nigerian context and the historical conjuncture.
b. Mobilising for Change: It is well recognised that mobilisation is key for any change in a society. This presentation will focus on how we can mobilise for change in Nigeria. It will examine various forms of mobilisation including the traditional media; new media; civic and political education; re-orientation and mass mobilisation. It will also look at the reforms required to enhance the conditions to struggle for change such as electoral and constitutional reform.
c. Operationalising Strategy and Tactics: This presentation will operationalise whatever strategy we have agreed to from the previous presentations. It will show how the strategies will work in practice. This will not be a prepared presentation but will flow to listening to the two previous presentations, discussions and conclusions. In particular, it will show how we will engage with different interest groups for change including
• Citizen Engagement
• Engagement by professionals
• Engagement by labour
• Engagement by CSOs
• Engagement by the private sector
• Engagement by Nigerians in diaspora
• Engagement by Political parties
6. SUGGESTED AGENDA
9.00am: Registration of Participants
10.00am: Welcome Statement by Co-ordinator of FOIC listserve
10.10am: Introduction of participants
10.40am: Strategies for Change
11.10am: Mobilising for Change
11.40am: Discussion and Debate
1.00pm: Lunch Break
2.30pm: Operationalising Strategy and Tactics
3.00pm: Discussion and Debate
4.00pm: Next Steps (Formation of Committees)
Volunteers are hereby required to play the following roles:
1) Moderators: Two
2) Lead presenters on the three topics
3) Discussants: Six (Two for each topic)
4) Rapporteur
1. PREAMBLE
This concept note gives the context of the March 21st meeting, the main issues to be discussed and suggested agenda.
2. CONTEXT OF THE MEETING
The idea for this meeting arose from debates on the Freedom of Information (FOIC) listserve. Many commentators drew attention to the challenges facing Nigeria and concluded that the only solution is a “revolution.” The debate then centred on what kind of and how revolution can take place in Nigeria. One commentator mentioned that there are at least two initiatives currently going on in Nigeria to bring about change: movement for change and movement for social transformation. The debate then shifted to how we can bring about change and the roles that members of the listserve and other progressive Nigerians could play in the process. The idea was then mooted that there should be a meeting to brainstorm on how to change and transform Nigeria.
3. DIVERSITY OF THE FORUM
This meeting is coming from an initiative in a listserve that has diverse members. The diversity of members also means that there are diverse views. But majority of the members of the forum are civil society activists. There are several categorisations of civil society members and their positioning. One very useful one recognises four groups of civil society organisations namely the abolitionists, the transformists, the reformists and the conformists. As we documented elsewhere:
Civil society positioning is influenced by a lot of factors including ideological orientation, leadership, knowledge and training...The Abolitionists argue that the structures and systems in place to deliver on development are illegitimate and constrain freedom and capacity of individuals to bring about development. They recommend the abolition of all structures including governmental structures, private companies, e.t.c. and replacing them with completely new structures. Many of these people will not participate in any government committee or commission because they believe that nothing positive will be achieved until the entire structure is abolished... The Transformists are of the view that that there are fundamental problems with the structures and mechanisms in place to bring about development. They argue that the processes that emanate from the structures and mechanisms are oppressive and exclude the poor. They suggest a fundamental restructuring of the structures and mechanisms to deliver development...The Reformists see nothing fundamentally wrong with the structures and mechanism. They argue that the problem is with leadership and performance. They suggest that good leadership, discipline and proper management can bring about the desired development. The reformists believe in entreism i.e. that they can go into government by whatever means (election or appointment) to bring about the desired changes. The Conformists see nothing wrong with the system. They just want to be part of the system. Their greatest argument is for the involvement of the civil society in governance and development projects. The conformists are always lobbying for positions in government. They are mostly opportunists.
The recognition of the diversity of the listserve will also mean that there will be different understanding on how to bring about change. But one thing that unites all except the conformists is the need for change.
4. MAIN THEME
Flowing from above, the main theme of the meeting will be how to bring about change in Nigeria. The meeting should at least produce a blueprint for change that different categories of persons can relate to and participate in a grand coalition that will ensure that change takes place in Nigeria.
5. PRESENTATIONS
It is proposed that there will be three main presentations. After a lead presentation, there should be at least two discussants for each presentation. The three suggested topics are:
a. Strategies for Change: This presentation will propose strategies that will bring about change in Nigeria taking into consideration international and Nigerian context. It will draw from experiences of other countries that have mobilised for and organised change. It will look at known strategies such as participation in formal institutions; campaigns, protests & boycotts; alliance building; movement building and political party organising and recommend given our Nigerian context and the historical conjuncture.
b. Mobilising for Change: It is well recognised that mobilisation is key for any change in a society. This presentation will focus on how we can mobilise for change in Nigeria. It will examine various forms of mobilisation including the traditional media; new media; civic and political education; re-orientation and mass mobilisation. It will also look at the reforms required to enhance the conditions to struggle for change such as electoral and constitutional reform.
c. Operationalising Strategy and Tactics: This presentation will operationalise whatever strategy we have agreed to from the previous presentations. It will show how the strategies will work in practice. This will not be a prepared presentation but will flow to listening to the two previous presentations, discussions and conclusions. In particular, it will show how we will engage with different interest groups for change including
• Citizen Engagement
• Engagement by professionals
• Engagement by labour
• Engagement by CSOs
• Engagement by the private sector
• Engagement by Nigerians in diaspora
• Engagement by Political parties
6. SUGGESTED AGENDA
9.00am: Registration of Participants
10.00am: Welcome Statement by Co-ordinator of FOIC listserve
10.10am: Introduction of participants
10.40am: Strategies for Change
11.10am: Mobilising for Change
11.40am: Discussion and Debate
1.00pm: Lunch Break
2.30pm: Operationalising Strategy and Tactics
3.00pm: Discussion and Debate
4.00pm: Next Steps (Formation of Committees)
Volunteers are hereby required to play the following roles:
1) Moderators: Two
2) Lead presenters on the three topics
3) Discussants: Six (Two for each topic)
4) Rapporteur
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