The Resource Centre for Human Rights and Civic Education (CHRICED) has called for stronger collaboration between the media and civil society organisations to deepen democratic accountability, promote citizens’ participation and strengthen the protection of human rights in Nigeria.

The organisation said the media remained a critical partner in its two-decade campaign for good governance, transparency, social justice and inclusive development, noting that journalists had helped amplify the concerns of ordinary Nigerians and hold public institutions accountable.

Ibrahim M. Zikirullahi, Executive Director of CHRICED, made the call while addressing members of the Correspondents’ Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Kano Council, as part of activities marking the organisation’s 20th anniversary.

The anniversary, celebrated under the theme, *”20 Years of Voice and Justice: Empowering Citizens, Shaping Tomorrow,”* provided an opportunity for the organisation to reflect on its contributions to democratic development and acknowledge the role of the media in advancing its advocacy initiatives.

Zikirullahi said democracy could not be sustained by elections alone but required informed citizens, accountable institutions, effective scrutiny of public power and platforms through which people could express their concerns.

He identified economic hardship, insecurity, unemployment, social exclusion and governance challenges as some of the issues confronting Nigerians, stressing that the media and civil society had important responsibilities in ensuring that democratic governance translated into improved living conditions.

According to him, democracy becomes stronger when journalists investigate issues of public interest, civil society organisations mobilise citizens and government institutions respond to legitimate demands for accountability.

He warned against treating public criticism as hostility, arguing that democratic institutions must remain open to scrutiny and citizens’ demands for transparency.

Reflecting on its achievements since inception, Zikirullahi said CHRICED had worked with communities, government institutions, traditional leaders, development partners, youth groups, women’s organisations and media organisations to promote democratic participation and social justice.

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Its interventions, he said, had covered maternal healthcare, transparent funding of the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), inclusive Almajiri education, the rights of Abuja’s Original Inhabitants, constituency project monitoring and accountability in public expenditure.

He added that the organisation had also advocated the protection of civic freedoms and challenged abuses of power through public-interest campaigns and policy engagements.

Providing details of its impact, Zikirullahi disclosed that CHRICED’s programmes and partnerships had directly and indirectly reached more than 3.59 million people in the past 20 years.

He said the organisation had generated more than 30,000 media outputs, built a digital community of over 1.2 million followers and supported networks comprising more than 15,000 women and young people across the country.

Other achievements included the implementation of nine major projects, publication of 62 reports, manuals and research documents, and collaboration with 11 funding partners and 19 strategic partner organisations.

The executive director, however, acknowledged that the achievements could not be separated from the contributions of journalists who had consistently reported on issues of accountability, human rights, inclusion and public-sector transparency.

He described the media as a strategic ally rather than merely a channel for communicating the organisation’s activities, saying its reporting had helped take advocacy messages beyond project communities and conference halls.

As part of efforts to expand access to civic education and public-interest information, Zikirullahi disclosed that CHRICED had established radio and television platforms to reach underserved communities, particularly rural populations whose concerns often receive limited national attention.

He explained that the initiative was designed to complement existing media organisations and strengthen public-interest communication rather than compete with established broadcasting platforms.

Looking ahead, he called for stronger partnerships between CHRICED and the Nigerian media community, noting that the country’s democratic future would depend on informed citizens, institutions committed to defending democratic values and journalists willing to expose issues affecting the public.

He said the organisation’s 20th anniversary was not a destination but a foundation for greater interventions in civic engagement, accountability and social justice.

Zikirullahi also expressed appreciation to members of the Correspondents’ Chapel and other media professionals for their support over the years, urging them to sustain their commitment to reporting issues that promote transparency, justice and democratic development.