Philanthropy Circuit and Giving Tuesday Nigeria launched its maiden edition of a monthly Twitter space conversation that is set to hold every first Tuesday of the month.
The first session held on July 5th, 2022 with leading expert voices Z. J. Jallah of YESLiberia and Funke Adeoye of Hope Behind Bars Africa sharing insights on how legislation can deepen African Philanthropy.
Funke Adeoye is the founder of Hope Behind Bars Initiative, a non-profit organization based in Nigeria that connects indigent women and young people awaiting trial to lawyers, and helps improve prison welfare through outreaches and policy influencing. While Z.J Jallah, is the founder of YESLiberia, a grassroots organization that empowers young people through meaningful service-learning opportunities in education, healthcare, and technology
Giving fuels philanthropy and social change, and with direct effects on catalyzing national development tends to also influence policy making. Philanthropy Circuit, Giving Tuesday Nigeria, and the invited speakers discussed the future and the numerous good deeds that the government can support.
When asked what generosity means to her, Funke Adeoye shared, “Generosity is giving, generosity is giving of my money giving of my time, giving of my skills, giving of my social network, and giving of my support”
Jallah also emphasized how generosity is so much more than just giving money or resources. Generosity should be seen as a way of life. Time and effort, skills, support, and social networking are all parts of generosity.
Nonprofits are formed and run under the laws of the state in which they are registered. Each state has a nonprofit statute that allows the formation of organizations to carry out charitable, educational, or civic goals that are not profit-oriented.
Speaking on Legislation, Speaking to how African governments can leverage legislation, Funke shares how there is no need for newer legislation or policies. Citizens must be encouraged to implement and leverage existing legislation.
She emphasized the importance of simplifying and effectively communicating enacted laws that apply to civil society, everyone knows what they stand to gain within the sector.
Legislation in this situation must be understood in terms of both the laws themselves and any Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDA) policies that might be established. Nonprofit organizations can have a significant impact on policy and legislation at the federal, state, and local levels.
While it is critical that actors communicate how they can influence policy and legislation at the federal, state, and local levels. It is noteworthy that African states must not treat the sector as an afterthought, it is time for a better system that prioritizes nonprofits’ and their communities’ needs and expertise.
Listen to the Twitter Space conversation. on Twitter here