WELCOME ADDRESS By Comrade Ibrahim M. Zikirullahi, Executive Director, Resource Centre for Human Rights & Civic Education (CHRICED) at the Official Unveiling of CHRICED Legacy House in Kano, Thursday, 5 November 2026
CHRICED @20 Anniversary Celebration: Strengthening Voices • Deepening Democracy • Building the Future
Distinguished Chairman of this Occasion, Distinguished Guest of Honour, Honourable Minister of State for Education, Representatives of Development Partners, Our Royal Fathers, Kano State House of Assembly, Government Officials, Religious Leaders, Members of the Academic Community, Leaders of Civil Society Organisations, Members of the Media, Family Members, Friends and Supporters of CHRICED, Ladies and Gentlemen,
Assalamu Alaikum Warahmatullahi Wabarakatuhu, and good morning.
Today, I stand before you with a heart full of gratitude, humility, and reflection.
For some, this is the unveiling of a building. For us at CHRICED, it is the celebration of twenty years of faith, sacrifice, resilience, partnership, and an enduring belief in the possibility of a more just and democratic Nigeria.
It gives me immense pleasure to welcome you all to the official unveiling of the CHRICED Legacy House and the Kano chapter of our twentieth anniversary celebration.
Twenty years ago, CHRICED began as a modest idea founded on a simple conviction: that democracy flourishes when citizens are informed, empowered, and able to participate meaningfully in public life.
At the time, we had no permanent office and little certainty about the future. What we had was conviction. We believed that ordinary citizens deserved a voice, that accountability mattered, and that justice was worth defending.
Twenty years later, we stand here reflecting on a journey that has exceeded even our own expectations.
The story of CHRICED is not merely the story of an organisation. It is the story of communities that refused to surrender to despair, young people who found their voices, women who found the courage to lead, and citizens who demanded accountability and democratic inclusion.
Throughout these two decades, we have worked to advance human rights, civic education, democratic governance, and citizen participation. We have celebrated successes, endured setbacks, and learned valuable lessons. Yet our commitment to justice, inclusion, and democratic development has remained constant.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Today’s event is about much more than a building.
It is about celebrating a twenty-year journey that has taken us from modest beginnings to enduring institutions.
Along the way, we established Professor Abubakar Momoh House in Abuja as our permanent national headquarters. We launched CHRICED Radio and Television to expand civic dialogue and amplify citizens’ voices. And today, with the unveiling of the CHRICED Legacy House in Kano, we add another important chapter to our story of growth and institution-building.
The Legacy House is more than a physical structure. It is a symbol of endurance, possibility, and hope. It represents our belief that institutions built on integrity, service, and shared values can outlive individuals and continue serving society for generations.
This milestone was made possible through the institutional support provided by the MacArthur Foundation between 2021 and 2025. That support strengthened our organisation and enabled us to establish a permanent centre for civic engagement, leadership development, policy dialogue, and citizen empowerment in Northern Nigeria.
In recognition of this remarkable partnership, CHRICED is honoured to name the fully digitised training and convening hall within this facility the Professor John Palfrey Hall, in honour of the President of the MacArthur Foundation.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
The impact of this facility is already being felt beyond its walls.
In recognition of the contribution this project has made to the development of Farawa and the wider Kombotso Local Government Area, the community leadership, through the Mai Unguwa of Farawa, facilitated the naming of the road on which this facility stands as Kole Ahmed Shettima Street.
This honour reflects the gratitude of a community whose development has been positively influenced by visionary partnerships and enduring commitment to the public good.
We sincerely thank the people of Farawa, the Mai Unguwa, the District Head, and the leadership of Kombotso Local Government Area for this thoughtful gesture.
Today, the existence of Kole Ahmed Shettima Street, Professor John Palfrey Hall, and the CHRICED Legacy House tells a powerful story of partnership, shared vision, and democratic progress.
Our theme, “Strengthening Voices • Deepening Democracy • Building the Future,” reminds us that democracy must continually be nurtured and strengthened. It challenges all of us to deepen citizen participation, strengthen public institutions, and ensure that future generations inherit a society built on justice, accountability, and inclusion.
We are particularly honoured by the presence of our Distinguished Guest of Honour, Dr. Kole Ahmed Shettima, Director of the Africa Office of the MacArthur Foundation, whose leadership has contributed immensely to democratic development and civil society advancement in Nigeria.
We are equally honoured by the presence of Professor Suwaiba Sa’idu Ahmad, Honourable Minister of State for Education. We thank you for joining us on this important occasion.
Permit me also to acknowledge the Chairman of the CHRICED Board of Directors, Professor Momodu Kassim-Momodu, members of our Board, development partners, traditional institutions, government representatives, academics, the media, beneficiaries, staff, and friends of CHRICED who have travelled from near and far to celebrate with us.
No institution reaches a milestone like this alone. Every achievement has been built upon countless acts of generosity, sacrifice, commitment, and belief.
To everyone who contributed to the success of this project and today’s ceremony, we offer our deepest appreciation. You transformed a vision into reality and helped create a lasting asset that will serve citizens, communities, and future generations.
I would be remiss if I did not express our profound appreciation to Engr. Aliyu Yakubu and the entire team at Yoksa Engineering Construction Limited for their professionalism, dedication, and commitment throughout the construction of the CHRICED Legacy House.
From the laying of the foundation to the completion of this magnificent facility, they transformed an architectural vision into a permanent home for civic engagement, democratic participation, and community empowerment in Northern Nigeria. On behalf of the Board, Management, Staff, and friends of CHRICED, we thank them sincerely for helping to make this dream a reality.
Ladies and Gentlemen, kindly join me in appreciating Yoksa Engineering Construction Limited and its dedicated team for a job exceptionally well done.
Permit me also to acknowledge our development partners whose confidence and support have sustained CHRICED over the last two decades. We are especially grateful to Misereor-KZE, one of our earliest and most steadfast partners, as well as the John D. And Catherin T. MacArthur Foundation, WeltFilme, e.V, the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), the British Council, Anti-Slavery International, the United States Embassy, the Australian High Commission, the United States Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor (DRL), the Commonwealth Secretariat, UNDP, the European Union, and many other institutions whose partnership has strengthened our impact and institutional growth.
We equally appreciate our friends and allies in civil society, and numerous partner organisations, including the ICPC and EFCC, that have worked alongside us in advancing accountability, democratic governance, and citizen empowerment.
Permit me also to thank our friends in the media. If CHRICED has had a voice over the last twenty years, it is because the media helped carry that voice across Nigeria. Through your reporting and platforms, conversations about human rights, democratic governance, accountability, and social justice reached millions of citizens. We remain profoundly grateful for your friendship, professionalism, and support.
I also wish to acknowledge my dear wife, Hajiya Binta, for her generous support towards today’s hospitality and for her unwavering encouragement throughout this journey. Our appreciation equally goes to the decorators, cultural performers, our Master of Ceremony, volunteers, and all CHRICED staff who worked diligently behind the scenes to make this celebration memorable. We equally appreciate the Kano State Commissioner of Police and the Command for ensuring a peaceful and successful event.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
The story of CHRICED is, above all, a story of hope.
It is the story of ordinary citizens discovering the extraordinary power of their voices. It is the story of communities choosing participation over silence, engagement over apathy, and hope over despair.
Twenty years ago, CHRICED existed only as an idea. Today, we celebrate the reality of enduring institutions: Professor Abubakar Momoh House, CHRICED Radio and Television, and now CHRICED Legacy House. Together, they stand as enduring symbols of what conviction, perseverance, partnership, and faith can achieve.
The unveiling of this Legacy House is therefore not the end of a journey. It is the beginning of a new chapter. A chapter that calls on us to strengthen more voices, deepen democracy further, and build a future worthy of the aspirations of our people.
On behalf of the Board of Directors, Management, and Staff of CHRICED, I thank you sincerely for honouring us with your presence and for being part of this historic milestone.
I warmly welcome you to the official unveiling of CHRICED Legacy House.
I welcome you to the Kano chapter of CHRICED @20.
And I welcome you to a celebration of resilience, partnership, democratic progress, and hope.
Thank you, and may God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
