Spaces for Change

🚨 NEW REPORT 🚨 @Spaces4Change unveils the 2nd ed. of the Trends Mapping Report 📃801 incidents across 16 West African countries (2022–2024) 📈26% rise from the first edition. 🔑Repression is now regional, systematic, and state-driven. Download 👉 shorturl.at/ytuzH

On March 10, @Spaces4Change joined the Economic and Financial Crimes Commmision (EFCC) and the Special Control Unit against Money Laundering (SCUML) at the flag-off ceremony for the review of Nigeria's terrorism financing risk assessment of the nonprofit sector.

Congratulations to the entire team, @Spaces4Change, on 14 years of impact. Through your work amplifying community voices and advocating for civic freedoms and policy reforms, you have helped expand the space for citizens to engage and be heard. From all of us @WSoyinkaCentre, we celebrate the impact you have made and the communities you continue to stand with. Here’s to many more years of strengthening voices and shaping change.

Celebrating 14 years of Impact 🎯 Of communities strengthened 👨‍👨‍👦‍👦🌐 Of voices amplified 🗣️ Of policies influenced 📝 Of movements supported 🗣️👨‍👨‍👦‍👦🌐 Fourteen years down. The mission continues. 🚀 #S4CAt14 #HumanRights #WestAfrica #14on13

As March is globally recognised as Women’s History Month and includes International Women’s Day, a global moment to celebrate the achievements of women and renew commitments to gender equality, the Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room continues to spotlight outstanding women leaders within our partner organisations who are advancing gender equality and women's rights in Nigeria. Today, we proudly recognise and celebrate: Grace Jerry (@gracejjerry) - Executive Director, Inclusive Friends Association (IFA) @inclusivefrnds Victoria Ibezim-Ohaeri (@VictoriaOhaeri) - Founder and Executive Director, Spaces for Change (S4C) @Spaces4Change Agianpe Onyema (@AgianpeA) - Secretariat Co-ordinator, Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room @PLACNG We commend your commitment, leadership, and the enduring impact of your work in advancing women’s rights and strengthening democratic governance. #IWD2026 #InternationalWomensDay2026 #InternationalWomensDay #SituationRoomNG

At the Women in Host Communities Forum convened by @Spaces4Change & supported by @FordFoundation for the 2026 #IWD celebration, 40+ women shared experiences from extractive communities & explored strategies to strengthen leadership, protect girls, & advance equity in governance.

We're proud to participate in @Spaces4Change's Digital Security Clinic last week! We joined 30+ journalists and civic actors to tackle misinformation, surveillance, online harassment, and digital security threats. Grateful for the tools and insights to boost our digital safety.

Last week, @Spaces4Change convened 30+ journalists and civic actors in Abuja for a two-day Digital Security Clinic under the CSR-Hub, equipping participants with tools to navigate misinformation, surveillance, online harassment, and growing digital security threats. 🔐🌍

In this edition of our monthly newsletter, we reflect on our activities from February. This edition features articles from the activities executed across our thematic areas of digital rights, extractive justice, and civic space protection. 👉 shorturl.at/RSfOX

On March 4, @Spaces4Change joined a @HouseNGR Committee public hearing on the NHRC Repeal and Enactment Bill and Human Rights Defenders Bill. We welcomed reforms but urged youth inclusion and oversight of emerging technologies, reaffirming our commitment to protecting freedoms.

Participants canvassed for transparency in procurement, mandatory human rights assessments for surveillance technologies, stronger judicial capacity, increased telecom accountability, support for locally developed safeguards, and reinforced institutional oversight. 2/2

Last week, @Spaces4Change convened 30+ stakeholders across govt, telecoms, law, academia, civil society and media to examine how human rights can be protected alongside business and security objectives in Nigeria. 1/2

The inaugural meeting of the Divisional Community Policing Committee (DCPC) in Naka, Gwer West, Benue State. The program was organized by @ElixirTF @Spaces4Change @OpenSociety on the 27th Feb. 2026. Much appreciation to all stakeholders who honoured the invite to touch lives.

On February 25, @Spaces4Change with support from the @OpenSociety flagged off the Womenpowa Initiative in Benue State, supporting 100+ beneficiaries, mostly displaced women and farmers from Guma and Gwer West Local Government Area, who have been victims of farmer–herder clashes.

In this discussion with Al Jazeera, @Spaces4Change strongly condemns the Makoko demolitions in Lagos and demands compensation for displaced residents. We are not demanding resettlement, but in-situ upgrading of the settlement. Read more👉lnkd.in/dYrYut7P

With total submission to the will of God, we regret to announce the passing of our dear colleague, Mr. Linus Anyadiegwu. We are deeply saddened by this loss and extend our heartfelt condolences to his family, friends, and all who knew him. May his soul rest in peace. Amen.

Last week at the 2-day FATF Rec. 8 training, 70+ executives of NPOs, banks, and regulators confronted the compliance–inclusion gap, urging empathy-led, risk-based approaches that protect financial integrity without hindering legitimate civic work through effective collaboration.

In this edition of our monthly newsletter, we reflect on our activities from January. This edition features articles from the activities executed across our thematic areas of digital rights, housing and urban governance, and civic space protection 👉 shorturl.at/ozgNZ

📢 Now Available: Conference Report! The High-Level Africa Civil Society AML/CFT Conference report is live. 🔗civicadvisoryhub.org/publications/t… Explore key insights on advancing balanced, risk-based & rights-respecting AML/CFT frameworks across Africa. #AfricaAML #AML #CFT #CivilSociety #FATF

@Spaces4Change, with support from @OpenSociety, convenes a 2-day capacity-building training for over 100 members of two Bayelsa Neighbourhood Watch Groups, under the SRO project, focusing on legal approaches to community policing and collaboration with security agencies.