How PACE Healed Decades of Rift Among Jigawa CSOs, Forged United Front for Development
By Ahmed Aminu in Dutse
For decades, Jigawa’s once vibrant community of civil society organizations (CSOs) was weakened by leadership tussles, mistrust, and unresolved rivalries. What should have been a strong coalition to drive development and accountability under the Open Government Partnership (OGP) became fractured, leaving the state without a unified civic voice.
But last week in Kaduna, a turning point was recorded. At the Assa Pyramid Hotel, leaders of CSOs, government agencies, private sector players, academia, media, and development partners gathered under one roof for a three-day training on coalition building and citizen engagement.
The training, convened by the Partnership for Agile Governance and Climate Engagement (PACE) with support from UK International Development, marked a rare moment of reconciliation.
Since Jigawa was created 34 years ago, civil society groups have been at the heart of interventions in health, education, environment, social protection, transparency, and accountability. Yet, years of mistrust—especially during an earlier attempt to form an OGP coalition under a retired health officer—splintered the sector. Some stakeholders had questioned the legitimacy of leadership, leading to open disagreements that stalled progress.
“The coalition remained in crisis for years. We could not achieve the objectives for which it was formed,” admitted one participant at the Kaduna workshop.
This year, PACE stepped in with a bold mediation effort. Through several rounds of dialogue, the organization cleared misunderstandings and brokered consensus. Eventually, CSOs unanimously appointed Comrade Isah Mustapha as co-chair, giving birth to a fresh platform now known as the Jigawa Coalition for Climate Action, Governance, and Economic Empowerment (JC-CAGE).
JC-CAGE has mapped out four priority areas: social protection, economic empowerment, climate action, and governance. Its goal is to give Jigawa citizens a stronger voice in shaping policies and holding institutions accountable.
According to PACE State Team Lead, Muiz Adeniran, the three-day workshop was designed to build the technical capacity of 65 participants—drawn from CSOs and government actors—on project design, conflict management, advocacy, and monitoring.
“We were able to identify 28 key issues, but narrowed them down to two that require collective action. The coalition members now have the tools to engage citizens, design sustainable projects, and evaluate outcomes,” Adeniran explained.
The training covered conflict-sensitive programming, participatory leadership, data collection techniques, and innovative climate project ideas for CSOs. Resource persons emphasized the importance of long-term sustainability and inclusivity, urging participants to integrate women, youth, and persons with disabilities into coalition activities.
Participants shared optimism about the coalition’s revival.
“The program has equipped us with the skills to design effective advocacy strategies that prioritize the needs of our communities,” said Fatima Abdulhafiz.
Dr. James Zasha, a facilitator, stressed sustainability: “We expect JC-CAGE to play a crucial role in addressing Jigawa’s challenges and advancing inclusive development.”
For Comrade Isah Mustapha, the newly adopted co-chair, the coalition represents a second chance for Jigawa’s CSOs. “We are committed to working as one, with integrity and shared purpose, to serve our state,” he declared.
Even traditional and religious leaders welcomed the move. Habibu Aminu, Deputy Chief Imam of Hadeija, prayed that “the coalition’s efforts be guided by wisdom, integrity, and commitment to the well-being of Jigawa State and beyond.”
The coalition’s immediate priorities include addressing limited access to economic empowerment, tackling rising climate vulnerabilities, and strengthening monitoring and evaluation systems. Its activities will also align with PACE’s broader agenda: building accountable and inclusive institutions that can respond to governance and climate challenges across Nigeria.
As a 48-month UK-funded programme, PACE is being implemented in Kaduna, Kano, Jigawa, and the FCT, mobilising diverse stakeholders in a whole-of-society approach. By placing citizen engagement at its centre, the programme hopes to ensure that community voices shape policy outcomes.
The formation of JC-CAGE is more than a structural reorganization—it is a symbolic healing of old wounds. For years, divisions among CSOs slowed the progress of civic advocacy. Now, with unity restored, Jigawa may be entering a new era of collaboration where civil society, government, and citizens jointly confront the pressing challenges of climate change, poverty, and governance.
As one consultant, Gloria Kasance Bulus, reminded participants, “Climate change is not realized in one or two years—it takes decades. Coalitions like JC-CAGE must therefore think long-term and stay committed.”
With optimism in the air and lessons learned from past divisions, the coalition’s journey begins anew—this time on a foundation of unity, resilience, and shared purpose.
