HOW CAN THIS BE? 13 YEARS OF GRATITUDE

• SPACES FOR CHANGE’S 13^TH ANNIVERSARY

It’s been 13 years of passion and impact at Spaces for Change | S4C. Today is not an anniversary, but rather, a DAY OF GRATITUDE. That is why—assembled in this room today—are our family members, longtime friends, media partners, funders, Board members, and former staff that supported the organization from the very beginning. 13 years ago, we were extremely fortunate to have benefitted immensely from pioneer staff whose diligence, hard work, and selfless service oiled our wheels of growth as well as the unalloyed backing of several partners, funders, and community allies who believed in us, and sowed seeds of faith in a young and relatively unknown organization. This Day of Gratitude is a moment of celebration and reflection on the 13- year old journey toward becoming and the roles played by different actors.

Starting off as an online discussion group among youth peers on Facebook social networking site,  S4C has now metamorphosed into a leading advocacy group with two offices in Nigeria, one new office opening in Abuja this year, a new office also coming up in Banjul in 2025, one in Ghana, 20+ full-time staff all working under our shed across different countries.  The pivotal shift from online to offline advocacy began when S4C hosted the first-ever online conference on the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB), which piqued the interest of civil society, funders, the media and petroleum industry stakeholders. The wide reach and viral impact of the organization’s online campaigns prompted the establishment of a well-structured and registered organization with a physical address. Today, as they say, the rest is history.

Spaces for Change | S4C launched into its 13^th year with pragmatic leadership and strategic foresight. This is the year the organization intensified its engagement across multiple sectors, driving high-impact advocacy and interventions in critical areas such as digital rights, civic freedoms, energy transition, housing and community rights, gender inclusion and defending the civic space across West Africa. Our approach remained dynamic, ensuring our initiatives were robust, responsive, and deeply influential in shaping policy and governance frameworks in the subregion. Through these concerted efforts, S4C reaffirmed its resolute commitment to catalysing systemic change, strengthening democratic accountability, and championing human rights protection within Nigeria and the broader West African region.

Through key projects centred around research and knowledge-building, community empowerment, policy engagement, legal support and pro bono assistance, technical assistance to governments and corporations, and more, S4C spearheaded reforms to embed inclusion and human rights principles in policy-making and protecting the rights and interests of the society’s most vulnerable. Among several outcomes of our far-reaching interventions, we continued to develop extensive knowledge resources that inform and build the evidence for reforms in the strategic sectors aligned with the organizations four thematic focal areas: Civic Space Protection; Energy & Environmental Justice; Urban Governance and Informal Settlements; and Gender Inclusion.

Armed with our rigorous knowledge products and hard evidence, we succeeded in building the capacity of national authorities, embedding human rights principles in national counter-terrorism responses, blocking the misuse of security frameworks to suppress civic space while defending against efforts to restrict civil society under the guise of security measures. S4C also countered the invocation of security laws to target civil society and prevented the misuse of nonprofits for terrorism financing. Additionally, we worked to:

• provided high-level technical assistance and skill-support to security and law enforcement agencies in Nigeria mandated with the responsibility to counter money laundering and the financing of terrorism
• continuously partnering with federal agencies—such as Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiatives, National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA), Nigerian House of Representatives Committee on Host Communities, Nigeria Financial Intelligence Unit, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Special Control Unit against Money Laundering, Nigeria Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, National Human Rights Institution, Corporate Affairs Commission, National Data Protection Commission etc.—to implement a wide range of initiatives
• created innovative platforms for law enforcement agencies, regulators, banks and other financial institutions to address financial access challenges arising from the implementation of AML/CFT measures in Nigeria.
• enhanced financial integrity, institutional resilience and regulatory compliance culture in the non-profit sector, directly benefitting over 1,000 non-profits across West Africa.
• deepened local knowledge on the intersections of technology and security, especially the ethical concerns arising from the deployment of new technologies for crime control
• mitigated cyber threats and cybercrimes, including targeted and mass surveillance
• championed data protection and personal privacy in public and private spheres
• empowered communities to become active stakeholders in natural resource governance processes while advancing equitable benefit-sharing and inclusive climate policy development at the subnational levels.

These efforts exemplify S4C’s unwavering commitment to reform, empowerment and the protection of the historically excluded and most vulnerable. As we reflect on S4C’s monumental achievements and milestones in 2024, the results evoke a profound sense of gratitude, pride, and anticipation for the future. These accomplishments stand as a testament to the unwavering resilience and purpose that drives our mission. Yet, we humbly recognize that these successes are not ours alone to claim—S4C is a dynamic force fuelled by the collective expertise and dedication of an extraordinary team.

We extend our deepest appreciation to our Board of Trustees, committed staff, volunteers, interns, partners, and supporters. Your steadfast collaboration has been the cornerstone of the milestones we celebrate in this report. In essence, S4C’s journey over the past year highlights our relentless pursuit of transformative change in the lives of Nigerians, Africans, and global communities, as we work to shape a more just and equitable future.

I cannot conclude this speech without thanking our families who bear the brunt of the difficulties associated with this line of work. Too many nights are spent far away from home. Too many hours are spent in the air flying from one destination to another, at great personal risk and sacrifice. Too many nights are spent reading, writing and burning midnight oil. Our families, husbands, wives, children continuously endure the social, cultural and emotional deprivations our absence brings. That is why I am specially acknowledging my husband, J.O. who has not only shown immense understanding and support, but also gave me the wings to fly and soar. Without his support, I couldn’t have come this far. I wouldn’t have dared to dream. My special thanks also go to the husbands, wives and family members of our team members whose understanding give us the peace of mind and emotional stability to work.  We trust that the stories that we will share today will inspire you, just as the progress we have made together continues to inspire us.