2019 Tutu Fellow Samson Itodo has been appointed by the Nigerian government as a member of the national steering committee for the new Nigerian development plan, Agenda 2050. Itodo is the Executive Director of Yiaga Africa, a community of change-makers focused on building sustainable democracies in Africa anchored on the principles of inclusion, justice, accountability and constitutionalism.

He convened the Not Too Young To Run movement that led the successful advocacy for the reduction of age limits for running for public office in the Nigerian constitution. The campaign was adopted by the United Nations, African Union and ECOWAS as a global campaign.

He has facilitated the development of policy documents on electoral reform, international development cooperation, constitution review, public governance and political inclusion.

The national steering committee, inaugurated by President Buhari on 9 September 2020, will charter Nigeria’s new development plan, Agenda 2050, whose “main objectives... are to lift 100 million Nigerians out of poverty within the next 10 years, particularly given the World Bank’s projection that Nigeria will become the world’s third most populous country by 2050 with over 400 million people.”

President Buhari noted that it had become necessary to develop Successor Plans to the Nigeria Vision 20:2020 and the ERGP, which both lapse in December this year, in order to ensure continuity and efficiency in the country’s development planning.

The national steering committee will oversee governance structure comprising the Central Working Group and 26 Technical Working Groups to ensure alignment with Agenda 2050. On the composition of the committee, the President said in order to ensure a truly consultative, participatory and inclusive planning process, the membership will comprise representatives of one State governor from each of the six geopolitical zones; the Senate and House of Representatives; ministers; and representatives of key agencies.

Other members include major political parties, ALGON, captains of industries, Labour Organizations, youth organizations and women’s societies, farmers’ associations, traditional and religious leaders, people with special needs and members of the press.

You can read more about the work of the committee and the announcement at The Premium Times.