“To Defend Democracy, Nigerians Must Act Together” — Take It Back Movement Declares at Global Convening

The Take It Back Movement has issued a call to action, urging Nigerians across all sectors to unite in the defence of democracy.

According to the Head of the Movement’s Legal Aid Department, Barrister Bolaji M. Oluwatosin, the convening served as a vital space for critical engagement on the state of Nigeria’s democracy and the role of grassroots organizing in reclaiming civic space.

Taking to his official Facebook page, Oluwatosin wrote: “ActionAid Nigeria in collaboration with the Denmark International Development Agency (DANIDA), brought us together for three days for the 2025 Global Organising and Leadership Development Convening.

“It was a space for honest conversations where we shared strategies, challenged ideas, and proposed practical solutions for reclaiming our democracy and strengthening civic power.”

He further emphasized the urgent need for Nigerians to move beyond passive commentary and embrace courageous civic action.
“As an advocate for human rights, I strongly hold that to defend democracy, Nigerians must act—and act together—by standing up to the issues and stop being actionless intelligentsia and salon-activists,” he declared.

“I therefore charge my fellow country men and women to stand up fearlessly to run down these criminals who have decided to unrepentantly run down our country.”

Also weighing in, Adekunle Adeyemi Taofeeq, Coordinator of the Take It Back Movement in Lagos State, described the convening as “educating and insightful.”
“The three-day Global Organizing and Leadership Development (GOLD) workshop organized by ActionAid Nigeria was a success,” he wrote.

“Comrades from different organizations were present to share thoughtful ideas and also to learn leadership skills on how to end hunger and injustice in Nigeria.”

The GOLD Convening, a flagship initiative by ActionAid Nigeria, is designed to enhance leadership capacity among grassroots organizers, civic leaders, and change agents.

This year’s edition reportedly focused on democratic resilience, civic participation, and sustainable strategies for combating poverty, inequality, and bad governance.