Self-regulation key driver of CSO, media credibility — EGLAI

2026-02-18 - 00:47

By Henry Obetta The Ethics and Good Leadership Awareness Initiative, EGLAI, has urged Civil Society Organisations, CSOs, to prioritise public trust by strengthening internal governance structures and embracing self-regulation as a tool for credibility and sustainability. Team Lead of EGLAI, Mr. Harry Udoh, who made the call during a two-day capacity-building workshop for CSOs across the South-West region of Nigeria, called for stronger self-regulation, ethical reforms and constitutional governance within civil society organisations and sub-national networks, warning that the integrity of the sector remains critical to holding government accountable. Udoh stressed that reputation is built on transparency and structured information sharing, urging working groups and networks to institutionalise information management systems that make their activities visible to the public. “It is dangerous for a CSO not to have the trust of society. The more people know about you, the more your reputation grows. “A functional code of conduct is the foundation of any credible institution, and the precepts and principles that guide an organisation’s decisions, actions and operations.” He emphasised that policies must go beyond documentation, noting that they should be consistently reviewed, implemented and aligned with public interest. Udoh further stated that CSOs must clearly define their purpose and objectives in ways that reflect public benefit, adding that boards of trustees, management staff and volunteers must fully understand and adhere to organisational principles. Also speaking, Project Manager, EU CSO Bridge, Mr. Idem Udeokong, underscored the need for capacity-driven leadership within civil society organisations, saying that leadership without emotional intelligence could negatively affect an organisation. “A leader must not be an unbeliever or lack emotional intelligence. A deficiency in leadership capacity can create a ripple effect,” Udeokong said, urging leaders to model ethical behaviour. “Start from where you are, your organisation or network and lead by example. As a leader, you must be ready to give up certain privileges because people are watching you,” he added. On his part, Project Officer of EGLAI, Mr. Shiwua Mnenga, highlighted practical steps CSOs can adopt to strengthen self-regulation through structured self-assessment mechanisms.