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Nigeria and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) have reaffirmed commitment to strengthen democratic governance in the West Africa sub region.
This was revealed on Monday when the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Maitama Tuggar (OON), received the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Resident Representative in Nigeria, Ms. Elsie G. Attafuah, for a high-level strategic engagement focused on strengthening democratic governance across West Africa through the Regional Partnership for Democracy (RPD) in Abuja.
The meeting provided an avenue for both parties to review progress and reinforce their commitment to the RPD, which is a joint initiative between Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and UNDP.
The Minister, who expressed the significance of Nigeria’s leadership role within the African Union (AU), said his county is determined to advancing democratic values and institutional reform in the region.
While advocating the need to uphold democratic values, Amb Tuggar stressed that for quality delivery and effectiveness, national strategies must align with regional frameworks for sustainabllity.
“Democracy cannot thrive without truth, when truth becomes blurred, democracy itself comes under threat. The institutions we often criticize for being weak are the very institutions we rely on to safeguard democracy. Strengthening them is not optional—it’s essential," the minister maintained.
Amb. Tuggar commended the in-house technical working group of the RPD, delivery units, and the UNDP for their efforts in ensuring the objective is attained.
Tuggar emphasized the importance of collective ownership in sustaining the initiative, even as he appealed stakeholders to be united in building robust governance systems that reflect local realities.
In her remarks, Ms. Attafuah applauded Nigerian government’s leadership and reiterated UNDP’s unwavering support for the actualisation and sustainability of the RPD.
She hailed the collaborative efforts between Nigeria and UNDP, stressing for civil society participation, noting that Africa’s civil society.
“This partnership is not only timely but necessary, The RPD offers a platform for context-specific, African-led responses to the region’s democratic challenges.”
Regional Partnership for Democracy (RPD)is a flagship initiative under Nigeria’s 4D Foreign Policy Strategy, which prioritizes Democracy, Development, Diaspora, and Diplomacy.
Jointly initiated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the UNDP, the RPD aims to consolidate democratic progress across West Africa by empowering key institutions and promoting inclusive governance.
The initiative brings together governments, civil society, academia, youth networks, and development partners to design and implement reforms rooted in African values and democratic principles.
The initiative is aimed at promoting inclusive, accountable, and resilient democratic systems in the West African sub-region.