Vance Center Joins UNGA Side Event on Strengthening Democratic Foundations in Africa
The Vance Center’s Adaobi Egboka joined other experts, policymakers, and civic actors at a conference hosted by Kimpact Development Initiative that explored existing and emerging forms of cooperation to strengthen Africa’s democratic future.
Presenters at the September 18 event, L-R: speaker Obiageli “Oby” Ezekwesili, Nigerian economic policy expert and co-founder of Transparency International; moderator Adaobi Egboka; panelist Bodunrin Joseph Adebo; panelist Ashley Law; panelist Dr. Abiola Akiyode-Afolabi; and KDI Team Lead Bukola Idowu. Photo credit: KDI
On September 18, Adaobi Egboka, Director, Africa Initiatives participated in “Strengthening Democratic Foundations in Africa: From Old to Emerging Forms of Cooperation,” a high-level conference alongside the 80th UN General Assembly in New York. The event was organized by Vance Center client and partner Kimpact Development Initiative, a research and advocacy nonprofit dedicated to advancing democratic governance.
Egboka moderated a panel focused on how civic engagement and inclusive governance can serve as catalysts for peace and development. In her opening remarks, she reaffirmed the essential role of the international, regional, and national legal frameworks that protect citizens’ rights to fully participate in governance, including those of women, youth, and marginalized groups.
“Democracy in Africa will not be saved from above,” she reminded the audience. “It will be rebuilt by the voices and visions of everyday citizens who insist that their governments listen, that their rights be protected, and that their futures matter.”
The forward-looking conversation featured insights from panelists Ashley Law, Civic Engagement Specialist and Founder of Dynamic Prism Solutions; Bodunrin Joseph Adebo, International Development Specialist; and Dr. Abiola Akiyode-Afolabi, Chair of KDI’s Board and founder of the Women Advocates Research and Documentation Center.
The speakers discussed the structural and political conditions necessary for inclusive governance to flourish. They explored how, by embracing civic engagement rather than just tolerating it, institutions and governments can bolster peacebuilding and national cohesion.
The discussion concluded with the panelists examining specific models for inclusive governance, proposing institutional reforms and effective strategies to implement them, and highlighting areas where gaps persist.
The full-day event featured two other panel discussions addressing other key questions related to strengthening democracy in Africa. The conversations covered topics including citizen empowerment, mechanisms to support democracy in conflict-prone areas, the relationship and balance between security and protecting civic rights, and inclusive governance and youth.
See more photos from the event here.
Egboka moderated a panel focused on civic engagement and inclusive governance. Photo credit: KDI