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The Goodluck Jonathan Foundation (GJF) has called on governments and stakeholders across Africa to prioritize inclusive governance and empower citizens to determine their political future as the world marks the 2026 International Day of Democracy.
In a statement issued by the Foundation’s Communications Officer, Wealth Dickson Ominabo, the organization stressed that democracy must extend beyond election routines to deliver tangible dividends.
“For democracy to be truly impactful, it must extend beyond the periodic ritual of elections to guarantee fundamental rights, expanding freedoms, and shared prosperity for all citizens,” Ominabo stated.
Highlighting the relevance of this year’s theme to the Foundation’s mission, Ominabo quoted GJF’s Executive Director, Ms Ann Iyonu, as saying that :
“This year’s theme, ‘Raising Hands and Voices – Fostering Agency and Ownership through Deliberative Democracy,’ focuses on the role of deliberative democracy, a principle at the heart of our vision and core programming.
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Over the years, the Foundation has actively championed deliberative governance through initiatives such as our annual Democracy Dialogue, national peace conferences, and electoral mediation missions across West Africa. As we mark this day, we reiterate that democracy is only meaningful when it serves all citizens and places the people at the centre of governance.
The statement reads in part ‘’As we mark this day, we reiterate that democracy is only meaningful when it serves the interest of all citizens and places the people at the centre of governance. For democracy to be truly impactful, it must extend beyond the periodic ritual of elections to guarantee expanding freedoms and shared prosperity for all.
As we celebrate, we call on governments and key stakeholders to commit to building a society where the people’s voices truly count, where citizens actively decide who governs them and how they are governed, and where every individual is empowered to determine the direction of their nation’s governance. In doing so, we can build a society that is peaceful, just, and egalitarian.’’
