By Sanni Marvelous
About 15 youth- and women-led civil society organisations (CSOs) have been equipped with skills to use digital and new media platforms to strengthen advocacy and drive social change.
The capacity-building programme, held between October 30 and 31, physically in Abuja and virtually for participants across the country, was part of The Strengthening Youth and Women-led CSOs on New Media Project implemented by The SolutionsPaper (TSP), a digital-first solutions and constructive journalism outlet.
According to Chinonso Kenneth, Publisher of The SolutionsPaper, the initiative aims to help emerging civic actors take full advantage of digital tools to push for youth-focused policies and improve civic participation.
During a session on the principles and strategies of digital advocacy, Luqman Adamu, Communications Manager at AdvoKC Foundation, said “digital advocacy is the strategic use of online platforms to influence policy, shape narratives and mobilise citizens.”
He urged participants to adopt data-driven approaches in their campaigns and measure results for greater impact. “Nonprofits often stop at execution,” he said. “But a proper post-campaign audit helps identify what worked, what didn’t, and how to build on lessons learned.”
Another facilitator, Fasasi Sodiq of the Fasasi Youth Foundation, led a discussion on digital activism as a rising force for social transformation. He encouraged CSOs to prioritise storytelling, collaboration, and evidence-based communication to reach broader audiences and drive action.
In his presentation on development communication and media engagement, journalist Ogar Monday stressed the importance of maintaining productive relationships with the press. He reminded participants to cultivate partnerships with journalists before their campaigns hit the public stage and to consider the media as key allies in advocacy.
For many participants, the training offered crucial insights for improving their communication strategies. Marvelous Obot of the Youth Network for Community and Sustainable Development (YNCSD) said the programme broadened his knowledge, noting that it opened his eyes to new ways of designing “more engaging, inclusive, and evidence-based digital campaigns.”
The project was supported by the Nigeria Youths Future Fund (NYFF).
