Africa Must Set Its Own Development Agenda, Says ActionAid Nigeria Country Director

Abuja, Nigeria – Andrew Mamedu, Country Director of ActionAid Nigeria, has urged African nations to take ownership of their development agendas, rejecting calls for military intervention as a solution to societal challenges.
Speaking at the opening of a two-day Regional People Power Forum in Abuja on Monday, Mamedu emphasised the crucial role of citizen engagement in driving positive change.
Mamedu criticised the reliance on external forces, stating, “Africa must set the agenda for Africa’s development…This can only happen when social movements put pressure on the political class.”
He advocated for “beautiful trouble”—meaning constructive yet impactful activism—to force governments to fulfill their promises and prioritise grassroots development.
He highlighted the power of citizen action, asserting, “The power in people is more potent than the people in power.”
ActionAid Nigeria, Mamedu explained, is actively working towards this goal. Their new Country Strategy Paper (CSP), titled “Citizens Action to End Poverty and Injustice,” focuses on a four-pronged approach – ORGANISE, ACT, SHIFT, THRIVE (OAST) – to empower social movements.
This aligns with their Strategic Implementation Framework (SIF 3), which prioritises collaboration with grassroots movements.
Mamedu acknowledged the challenges inherent in social transformation, particularly within contexts of poverty and hardship.
However, he highlighted ActionAid Nigeria’s commitment to supporting social movements, citing the October creation of the Movement for Transformation of Nigeria (MOTiON), a coalition boasting approximately 30 million members.
He positioned ActionAid Nigeria as a central hub for social movement collaboration and support across West Africa.
The organisation’s overarching goal, Mamedu clarified, is a “just, fair and sustainable world” where everyone enjoys “dignity and freedom from poverty and oppression.”
ActionAid’s work focuses on achieving social justice, gender equality, and poverty eradication.
Mamedu’s address served as a call to action, urging African citizens to actively participate in shaping their destinies and rejecting external solutions that undermine self-determination.