Kano CSOs Conference Adopts Resolutions On Open Governance, Climate Action

Isiyaku Ahmed

Kano State has taken a historic step toward deepening democratic governance and strengthening citizen participation with the successful hosting of its first Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) Conference, held from 15 to 16 September 2025, at the Khalifa Isyaku Rabiu University, Kano.

The two-day conference, convened by the Ministry of Information and Internal Affairs with the support of the state government, brought together government institutions, CSOs, security agencies, academia, media, and development partners to deliberate on how to reposition civil society organizations as a key partner in governance, social cohesion, and sustainable development.

Participants described the event as a milestone in reshaping government–civil society relations from adversarial to collaborative, signaling what they called a “new era of co-creation, mutual accountability, and citizen-driven governance.”

In a communique issued at the close of the meeting on Tuesday, participants commended Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf for creating an enabling environment for civil society engagement and for pledging to integrate the conference recommendations into state policy.

They also lauded the Commissioner for Information and Internal Affairs, Comrade Ibrahim Abdullahi Waiya, for his leadership and commitment to strengthening government and CSO partnerships.

Key Observations

Critical areas highlighted by the communique include:

1. Open Governance and Accountability: Kano has adopted reforms such as transparent procurement, e-monitoring of projects, local government financial autonomy, gender-sensitive appointments, and the Open Government Partnership (OGP) framework.
2. Civil Society as the Third Sector: CSOs remain central to providing checks and balances but face challenges of funding, capacity, and coordination.
3. Security, Social Cohesion, and Conflict Sensitivity: Sustainable Peace requires stronger collaboration between communities, CSOs, security agencies, and communities to address root causes of insecurity, foster dialogue, and build trust.
4. Climate Action and Resilience: Climate change disproportionately affects vulnerable populations in Kano. Addressing it demands inclusive governance, community-driven adaptation, and equitable access to climate finance.
5. Need for Structured Partnerships: Without clear frameworks, feedback loops, and enabling laws, collaboration between government and CSOs remains ad hoc. Institutional mechanisms are essential for sustaining trust and joint action.

Resolutions

The conference resolved, among others, to:

1. Fast-track the implementation of the Freedom of Information Law in Kano.
2. Establish Civil Society Desks in all MDAs and develop a CSO-Government Partnership Charter.
3. Mainstream climate change adaptation and environmental justice into state policies.
4. Institutionalize annual CSO conferences, consultative forums, and technical working groups.
5. Strengthen community policing, early warning systems, and dialogue across ethnic and religious divides, and
6. Mobilize long-term funding for CSOs and invest in their capacity development.

Co-Creation, Feedback, and Learning

The conference agreed to;

1. Develop permanent feedback platforms where the government can identify gaps and CSOs can provide real-time input.
2. Build mechanisms for Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) to allow partnerships to adapt to emerging challenges.
3. Promote transparent communication, knowledge sharing, and inclusive participation of youth, women, and marginalized communities

The communique concluded with a pledge by participants to sustain momentum by translating resolutions into concrete actions, resilient networks, and inclusive governance structures that will shape “a more equitable, sustainable, and secure future for all residents of Kano State.”