Twenty years after emerging as a response to Nigeria’s democratic challenges, the Resource Centre for Human Rights and Civic Education (CHRICED) is marking two decades of defending citizens’ rights and amplifying their voices.
Over the past two decades, the organisation has championed human rights, civic education and accountable governance, with interventions spanning Kano, Kaduna and the Federal Capital Territory.
To celebrate this feat, CHRICED is set to mark its 20th anniversary with a gala and lecture in Abuja on November 2, 2026, as the organisation renews its call for stronger democratic accountability and citizen participation in Nigeria.
The Executive Director of CHRICED, Comrade Ibrahim M. Zikirullahi, in a statement issued on Friday, said the anniversary was an opportunity to reflect on the organisation’s journey and renew its commitment to democratic development.
“Twenty years ago, CHRICED emerged from a conviction that democracy must mean more than elections and the transfer of political power. It must protect people’s rights, give citizens a voice in decisions that affect their lives, and hold those entrusted with public office accountable,” Zikirullahi said.
The anniversary lecture, titled “Reclaiming Civic Space: The Rule of Law, Democratic Accountability, and the Future of Citizen Participation in Nigeria,” will focus on shrinking civic space, weakened institutions, rising intolerance and the need to restore public confidence in governance.
Zikirullahi said protecting civic freedoms and strengthening democratic institutions remained essential to Nigeria’s future.
“The question before us is not simply whether Nigeria has democratic institutions, but whether those institutions are sufficiently responsive, transparent and accountable to the people they exist to serve,” he said.
As part of the anniversary activities, CHRICED will unveil two publications: Action Civics Manual for Nigerian Students, a guide to civic engagement, democratic participation and youth advocacy; and Voices of Vigilance: CHRICED’s Public Interventions in a Defining Era, a collection of the organisation’s press statements from January 2020 to September 2026.
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The organisation will also formally unveil CHRICED Legacy House in Kano, a two-storey civic facility built with support from the MacArthur Foundation.
The facility has a digitally enabled 100-capacity civic hall, conference and training rooms, workstations, guest facilities and offices. It is expected to serve as a regional hub for civic education, youth empowerment, community organising, policy dialogue and democratic engagement across Northern Nigeria.
“Lasting democratic progress requires more than advocacy statements and public campaigns. It also requires spaces where citizens can learn, organise, exchange ideas and engage decision-makers,” Zikirullahi said.
CHRICED will also undertake appreciation visits to its partners between October 15 and November 2, 2026, to recognise the contributions of donors, civil society organisations, community leaders, journalists and other supporters.
The Executive Director expressed appreciation to the organisation’s partners and supporters for their contributions over the past two decades.
As CHRICED enters its next phase, the organisation says it remains committed to defending rights, empowering citizens, strengthening institutions and promoting transparent and accountable governance.
“Democracy thrives when citizens do,” Zikirullahi said.