The Federal Government and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) have signed a Regional Partnership for Democracy (RPD) programme, a mechanism designed to strengthen democratic governance across West Africa.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Amb. Yusuf Tuggar signed on behalf of Nigeria, while the Resident Representative of UNDP Nigeria, Ms Elsie Attafuah signed for the UN agency.
Tuggar said the initiative aimed at strengthening democratic governance through inclusive regional integration.
According to him, the initiative will address challenges like eroding public trust, disputed elections, and shrinking civic freedoms through African-led strategies.
Tuggar said core elements would include bolstering electoral bodies, early-warning systems against unconstitutional changes, empowering youth and civil society, and combating election misinformation.
He noted that the RPD would build platforms for cooperation across West Africa so member states can learn from each other and solve challenges together.
According to him, the initiative is a long-term investment in trust, inclusion, and accountable leadership — values that sit at the heart of governance.
He said that the programme would directly support the achievement of SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions) and will help rebuild confidence in democracy across our subregion.
“Nigeria is honoured to champion this effort. Our influence, democratic tradition, and longstanding commitment to peace and regional stability place a responsibility on us; and it is one we fully embrace.
“Democracy must deliver. And today, we commit to making that a reality for West Africans.”
Tuggar, expressed appreciation to the UN’s Office in Nigeria partnership, technical guidance and abiding confidence on Nigeria’s leadership
He said RPD was home-grown, yet globally informed mechanism and African solution to African challenge.
According to him, amidst efforts embodied in mechanisms, such as the African Union’s Peer Review Mechanism, and other numerous national reforms, democracy in several parts of Africa continued to face obstacles.
“Through this framework, we seek to, not only strengthen electoral institutions, deploy early-warning and rapid-response mechanisms against unconstitutional transitions, also elevate youth and civil society as indispensable democratic actors, counter disinformation and lay foundations for long-term governance stability.
“Importantly, the RPD is aligned with the aspirations of Agenda 2063 and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 16.
“Although Nigeria and the United Nations Office in Abuja are signatories to the instrument we are endorsing today, the RPD is open to co-ownership by all. It is a regional public good.
“It is intended not solely for ECOWAS Member States, but for all West African nations, reflecting the simple truth that African values neither begin nor end at the boundaries of ECOWAS or the AES.
“Its impact becomes manifest, we anticipate that other African regions seeking sustainable, African-rooted democratic models will join this initiative.”
Speaking during the inauguration, the Resident Representative of UNDP Nigeria, said the RPD embodied Nigeria’s continental leadership.
She said the UNDP and by extension, the UN’s family, enduring commitment to work beside governments that dare to imagine a stronger, more inclusive, and more resilient West Africa.
Attafuah said, “Today’s milestone signals that Nigeria is not only shaping the regional democratic landscape, but also charting path for Africa-led, Africa-owned transformation.
”The Regional Partnership for Democracy is not merely a programme. It is a compact of values.
“It is African-led, regionally anchored, and globally significant, grounded in our belief that the access to Africa’s definite challenges lies within Africa itself.”
She explained four pillars of the RPD to be aimed at strengthening democratic institutions and public accountability, broadening inclusive citizen participation, especially for women, youth, and persons with disabilities.
Others include, promoting credible and transparent electoral systems, to foster regional cooperation and peer learning so that democracy delivers for the people of West Africa.
On his part, President of the ECOWAS Commission, Dr Omar Touray. said the RPD initiative is committed to accompanying member states in advancing democracy, good governance, development, and the Rule of Law across Africa with the West African Regional Hub domiciled in Nigeria.
Touray was represented by ECOWAS Commissioner, Political Affairs, Peace and Security Ambassador Abdel-Fatau Musah.
“It is being launched when the social contract between the state and the citizenry is unravelling at the seams, because of democracy as practised in Africa and in our sub-region is notoriously thin.
“This is in terms of delivering on dividends, basic infrastructure, and social safety net for the vulnerable, not to talk about safety and security.
“The ECOWAS Commission, therefore, sees this initiative, which is aimed at promoting inclusive, accountable, and resilient political systems across the region as laudable, as it has the potential to contribute to regional efforts in protecting democratic governance,” Touray said.
Amb. Sola Enikanolaye, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Foreign Affairs and International Relations, expressed President Bola Tinubu’s support to the initiative.
He said Federal Government was committed to the growth of democracy in Nigeria and West Africa.
The event also featured goodwill messages from Sierra Leone’s High Commissioner to Nigeria, Julius Sandy, among others while vote of thanks by Amb. Dunoma Ahmed, Petrmanent-Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
