Democracy is in crisis mode. Citizens Demand and deserve better.
We are currently at a serious crossroads; democracy is in crisis mode. Questions are being asked, governments have been toppled, and there is a growing realization among Africans that Africa is not working for its people.
Across Africa, the promise of democracy “Our Politics” & decisions of our Leaders (Governance) often falls short of its potential, leaving many nations grappling with challenges that hinder progress and undermine the well-being of their citizens.
Despite strides towards entrenching democracy, systemic issues such as bad governance, state capture, bad decision-making, a compromised elite, weak institutions, lack of electoral integrity, low citizen engagement, corruption, and lack of accountability and transparency continue to plague the continent and hinder its progress.
Politics and the quality of governance significantly affect every aspect of a nation. It influences the private sector, families, personal aspirations, the standard of living—everything. For Nigerians and Africans in general, democracy is struggling to meet expectations and unlock Africa’s potential.
Systemic Issues require a Systemic approach.
We recognise these challenges as urgent and multifaceted, requiring innovative approaches and sustained efforts to enable accountable and inclusive governance across the continent.
Our Theory Of Change.
If you believe that this continent can get its act together and evolve into a developed economy that works for its people, the question on your mind is straightforward:
How do we rewrite Africa’s reality?
At Mandate 4, our answer begins with a bold thesis:
To transform Africa, starting with Nigeria, we must build a critical mass of stakeholders, public leaders, citizens, regulatory agencies, public institutions, non-profit organisations, political parties, media, and activists, who are fully engaged in the nation-building process. We must also equip them with the tools, knowledge, resources, and platform to act decisively, effectively, and at scale.
Only then can we birth a democracy that consistently meets the expectations and aspirations of its citizens, and ultimately, emerge as a continent where governance works, institutions deliver, and prosperity is shared.
We need a Critical Mass of stakeholders to act.
Public Leaders: We need a critical mass of values-based elected public leaders and officials with competence, capacity, and character to run for office, win elections, and deliver good outcomes for their people.
Citizens – We need a critical mass of engaged and enlightened electorates who not only vote for the right candidates but also uphold their civic duties and hold those elected to office accountable.
Public Institutions – We need a critical mass of Public institutions and civil servants with the right skills, doing their jobs with a high degree of professionalism, hard work, and commitment to the public’s interest.
Regulatory Agencies: We need a critical mass of officials working in institutions and regulatory agencies, from the electoral bodies, judiciary, and security agencies, who are committed to upholding the rule of law, standing up for what is right, and regulating the democratic, economic, and political spaces by the constitution and established policies.
Non-Profit Organisations: We need a critical mass of NGOs operating effectively and efficiently across their projects and programs to address governance challenges at scale.
Political Class & Parties – We need a critical mass of the political class to rise above selfish and tribal interests, building political parties with ideologies that enable the emergence of credible candidates.
Media & Activists – We need a critical mass of independent journalists and media companies committed to performing their duties without undue influence.
Introducing Mandate 4
To create this critical mass, we birthed Mandate4.
Mandate4 is a nation-building, not-for-profit Civic Startup on a mission to:
- Elevate the quality of our politics.
- Strengthen democracy and ensure accountability.
- Unlock Africa’s potential.
- Ensure good governance outcomes at scale for Africa’s 1.2 billion people.
We design and launch projects across our six key expressions to achieve our mission.
- Data & Intelligence
- Technology
- Talent & Capacity
- Advocacy & Behavior Change
- Strategy & Operations
- Policy & Legislation
Our projects enable non-profits, leaders, citizens, institutions, governments, and stakeholders in the nation-building process to act decisively, effectively, and at scale in their roles. We aim to create a democratic space that empowers citizens, institutions, and values-based leaders to drive good governance outcomes at scale and collaborate to tackle complex governance and socioeconomic challenges, address systemic issues, and build prosperous nations and states.