African Centre for Leadership, Strategy & Development (Centre LSD)

It’s Monday – a fresh start, a clean slate, a new opportunity to take action. At Centre LSD, we believe that every bold change begins with a single step. This week, we challenge you to take that first step toward your goal. Write the proposal, attend the meeting, join the training, speak up, show up. Progress is not magic — it's momentum. Let’s get started, let’s get going, let’s keep growing. #MondayMotivation #LeadershipDevelopment #CentreLSD

🚀 Get Ready! 🚀 The 4th Annual Transformative Gender Justice Conference is almost here! 🎉 🌍 Theme: March Forward: From Promise to Progress – Advancing the Implementation of the Maputo Protocol 📅 Date: Tuesday, March 25, 2025 Join Centre LSD and key stakeholders in shaping the future of gender justice in Nigeria. Together, we’ll drive action for the full implementation of the Maputo Protocol and challenge harmful norms that hinder progress. 💡 Insightful discussions, strategic commitments, and a roadmap for change await! 🔗 Register now: https://lnkd.in/duYZFY2f... Stay tuned for more updates! 🔥 #CentreLSD #MarchForward #GenderJustice #MaputoProtocol #IWD2025 #TransformativeChange

Video highlights from our 2-day workshop on reviewing Kano State’s SGBV Service Provision SOPs and harmonizing GBV referral pathways. With opening remarks by the Hon. Commissioner for Women Affairs, Children, and Persons with Disabilities, Amb. Hajia Amina Abdullahi Sani, the workshop brought together key stakeholders committed to strengthening survivor-centered response systems in Kano State. Together, we’re building a safer, more coordinated approach to tackling SGBV. 💜💪 #EndSGBV #KanoAgainstGBV #SBS4GenderJustice #CentreLSD #StrongerTogether

#WomanCrushWednesday 💪🏽💜 We celebrate every woman who has boldly invested her time, energy, and heart into training, leading, and advocating for the rights of women and girls. Your labour is not in vain, help is coming sooner than you think! Meet Hajiya Hauwa, a tireless gender activist. At one point, she had 10 gender-based violence cases in court—but not a single judgment delivered. Survivors began to lose hope. Then came a turning point. With the support and capacity strengthening from the Side-by-Side Movement for Gender Justice Nigeria, Hajiya Hauwa’s work took on new life. Now, she's not just fighting for justice—she's creating ripple effects that are safeguarding women and girls from violence. ✨ Hear her story. Be inspired. Stand #SideBySide for gender justice, #sbs4genderjustice

What Makes an Election Credible? Yesterday in Abuja, stakeholders gathered for a conversation on one of Nigeria’s most pressing democratic questions — how do we ensure our elections are truly credible? Hosted by African Centre for Leadership, Strategy & Development (Centre LSD), the Policy Dialogue on the Credibility Threshold of Elections brought together thought leaders, scholars, and changemakers in a powerful exchange of ideas. In his welcome address, Mr. Monday Osasah, Executive Director of Centre LSD, set the tone: “We’re here not just to talk, but to find practical solutions that will shape how elections are conducted in Nigeria.” He emphasized Centre LSD’s commitment to embedding election work within the entire electoral cycle from pre-election preparation to post-election reforms. The Founding Executive Director, Dr. Otive Igbuzor, outlined the four pillars guiding Centre LSD’s electoral work: 1. Credibility Threshold of Elections 2. Vote Not Fight Campaign 3. Voter Turnout Analysis & Programming 4. Monitoring of Key Stakeholders “This dialogue,” he said, “is about Pillar One—credibility. Today begins our journey to define the standards and build an index to measure what makes an election credible.” Dr. Igbuzor expressed concern that only 9 million voters—about 4.5% of Nigeria’s population—decided the outcome of the 2023 presidential elections. “We must ask: Why don’t people vote? And how can we inspire them to trust the process again?” Then came the keynote speaker, Dr. Iroro S. Izu, a political scientist from Nile University. His message was clear and compelling: ✅ INEC must create more polling units to ease voting access. ✅ Transparency and accountability checkers should be developed to assess INEC, political parties, media, security personnel, and voters. ✅ INEC should be unbundled into independent entities—one for offences, one for party primaries, and one for public orientation. ✅ CSOs should be empowered to train and monitor elections. ✅ Traditional and religious leaders must help shape voter behavior. ✅ And all elections? They should be held on the same day to avoid voter fatigue. “It is in everyone’s interest,” Dr. Izu said, “for elections to meet a basic credibility threshold—one built on transparency, inclusivity, security, and trust.” In closing, Chief Ezenwa Nwagwu of PAACA praised the progress Nigeria has made since 1999, especially the adoption of BVAS. But he also reminded everyone: “We must go beyond reforms on paper. Let’s address the realities of our time.” 📢 Watch our social media space for updates on our next policy dialogue! #CredibilityThreshold #CentreLSD #PolicyDialogue2025 #ElectionCredibility #NigeriaDecides #DemocracyMatters #BVAS #VoteNotFight

"Democracy is one of the few systems of government built directly on the trust of the people. But when it takes on abysmal forms, it becomes the madness of the many for the benefit of the few." ~ Iroro S. Izu. PhD. Happening now: Policy Dialogue on the Credibility Threshold of Elections.  Join us via the link below. Centre LSD is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting. Topic: Policy Dialogue on Credibility Threshold of Elections in Nigeria Time: Mar 18, 2025 11:00 AM West Central Africa Join Zoom Meeting https://lnkd.in/dJP4fT-h... Meeting ID: 838 7748 8048 Passcode: 965852 #CredibilityThreshold #PolicyDialogue #CentreLSD

TODAY is the day – at exactly 11:00 AM! ✨ Be part of a transformative dialogue on electoral credibility and democracy in Nigeria. 📅 March 18, 2025 📍 Zoom: Meeting ID: 838 7748 8048          Passcode: 965852 🕐 11:00 AM (West Central Africa Time) Come ready to engage, learn, and co-create solutions. #CountdownToCredibility #PolicyDialogue2025 #CentreLSD

Credible elections are not accidental — they are built and safeguarded by collective effort. As Nigeria works to strengthen its democratic processes, it's important to identify the forces that support or undermine electoral credibility. 🔹 Drivers: INEC, CSOs, media, citizens, traditional/religious leaders 🔹 Inhibitors: Politicians, compromised staff, poverty, misinformation As we head into the Policy Dialogue on March 18, let us deepen our understanding of these dynamics. 🗣️ Let’s work together to empower the drivers and dismantle the inhibitors of credible elections in Nigeria. ✅ Join the conversation via the meeting link (in the comment section) by 11:00 AM (West Central Africa Time) on Tuesday, March 18, 2025. #CredibilityThreshold #DemocracyInNigeria #CentreLSD

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Abuja, FCT, Nigeria Saturday, 15th March 2025 CENTRE LSD TO HOST POLICY DIALOGUE ON ELECTION CREDIBILITY THRESHOLD IN NIGERIA The African Centre for Leadership Strategy & Development (Centre LSD) is set to host a Policy Dialogue focused on establishing credibility threshold for elections in Nigeria. As a major component of democracy, elections play a crucial role in ensuring the periodic renewal of leadership based on the will of the people. Centre LSD emphasizes that "elections are the core of democracy, the heart of democratic systems." For an election outcome to be perceived as credible and reflective of the people's desires and aspirations, it must meet certain defined standards of acceptability. Mr. Itia Otabor, Director of Strategy at Centre LSD, states that the Policy Dialogue will explore the key indicators, drivers, and obstacles that shape the credibility of elections in Nigeria. The discussion will also present policy recommendations to ensure these standards are met. Event Details: Date: Tuesday, 18th March 2025 Time: 11:00 AM (WAT) Centre LSD invites stakeholders, policymakers, and the public to participate in this critical conversation. The event can be accessed via the following Zoom link: Zoom Link: https://lnkd.in/dUWRUz-7 Meeting ID: 838 7748 8048 Passcode: 965852  You can also engage and follow updates via Centre LSD’s social media platforms: Facebook: @centrelsd Instagram: @centrelsd Twitter (X): @centrelsd For more information, please contact: Monday Osasah Executive Director Centre LSD

'Elections are the nucleus of democracy, the centerpiece of democratic establishment.’ — Centre LSD As Nigeria continues its democratic journey, the credibility of our elections becomes more critical than ever. Join Centre LSD on Tuesday, March 18, 2025 at 11:00AM (West Central Africa Time) for a powerful Policy Dialogue on the Credibility Threshold of Elections. We'll unpack what it takes to ensure elections that are transparent, inclusive, and trustworthy. Be part of the conversation that shapes the future of democracy in Nigeria. Meeting ID: 838 7748 8048 Passcode: 965852 #ElectionCredibility #ElectionThreshold #CentreLSD #PolicyDialogue2025