The Change We Need (TCWN) Programme has consistently served as a platform for reflection, dialogue, and prayer for Nigeria, particularly during its annual Independence event at the National Christian Centre. Over the years, TCWN has brought together political leaders, senior public officials, Christian leaders, representatives from development organizations, the media, and academia to deliberate on critical issues affecting Nigeria’s development and to lift the nation and her leaders in prayer. The program has been institutionalized, becoming a vital occasion for inspiring collective action towards national transformation and unity. Through these dialogues, key themes have emerged, addressing the country’s most pressing challenges while seeking divine guidance for solutions.
Organizational Ideology/Philosophy
TCWNNI provide platforms for positive attitudinal change in governance and society.
Key Strategies
The Following are the key strategies TCWNNI will use to implement this strategic plan.
Advocacy
For TCWNNI, advocacy is both a programme and a key strategy to influence policies, decisions, practices, resource allocation, and improve good governance in general. In addition, advocacy, draws attention to important issues both in the church and in the society. TCWNNI’s advocacy efforts will highlight issues of national importance that the leaders should give priority to through the annual national/regional dialogues. In addition, advocacy will see the TCWNNI participating actively in processes such as election monitoring, budget monitoring, legislative public hearings, etc. to be able to make significant inputs into the processes. The goal of advocacy is to draw attention to national issues and to create enabling environment for positive change to happen.
Lecture/Dialogue/Discussion/Teaching
As a theme is selected for annual lecture and prayer, this will be the major issue of discourse for the year and is expected to be mainstreamed into the various programmes and activities of the organisation such as the Annual National Dialogue/Lecture; The Change We Need Clubs in schools; Television and Radio programmes; and Social media posts. The goal of this strategy is enhanced knowledge and understanding of how the selected themes relate with leadership and good governance.
Awareness and Publicity
Awareness and publicity are strategies through which TCWNNI will increase its publicity and visibility within the church and in the society. They are also key strategies to achieving value re-orientation and behaviour change, particularly among the youth; who are believed to be the leaders of tomorrow. Awareness and publicity channels will be focused on the use of regular and social media; publication of annual lectures, handbills, and newsletters; distribution of souvenirs; and regular press briefings. TCWNNI will devote resources to document its activities and achievements and give them wide publicity. The goal of this strategy is adequate publicity of TCWNNI and its mission.
Collaboration and Networking
The various challenges inherent in value re-orientation and nation building are beyond what a single organization can hope to effectively address. Hence, TCWNNI will adopt strategic alliance, networking, and collaboration as a strategy to liaise and work with other groups within the church, non-governmental organizations, community groups, government agencies and departments, and relevant international development partners to improve coverage and access to its programmes. The goal of this strategy is increased support and effectiveness.
Research/Knowledge Management and Learning (R/KM&L)
Research, knowledge management and learning are key to a change-oriented campaign such as the one TCWNNI is involved in. TCWNNI will undertake research into relevant laws, policies, and practices to inform the design, planning, and management of its programmes. It will also use information obtained from other research activities undertaken by individuals, groups, academic institutions and organisations to provide evidence-based advocacy. TCWNNI will conduct online as well as field researches to gauge public opinion; use such to inform the choice of the themes of its annual lectures; monitor and evaluate how these interventions are leading to change in attitude and behaviour of the populace. TCWNNI will share its successes and lessons learned with stakeholders through all means available, including via website, social media, newsletters and conference paper presentations. The goal of this strategy is increased relevance of TCWNNI programmes to national aspirations.
Institutional Strengthening
The focus of this strategy will be on how to improve the competence, capacity, and capability of TCWNNI to perform effectively and efficiently. Members’ and staff’s capacity improvement; provision of adequate financial and material resources, equipment and facilities; networking with relevant partners to expand services to target groups; and monitoring of programmes and overall organizational performance will be the means by which TCWNNI will become strong and sustainable in its operations.
In the past years, TCWN has facilitated Annual Independence dialogue followed by Special prayer for Nigeria at the National Christian Centre that brought together political leaders, senior public officials, Christian leaders and congregation, representatives of development organizations, academia, the media and other participants to deliberate on issues critical to the development of Nigeria and to pray for the nation. The events have been institutionalized.
These are the vehicles of the CHANGE that we need in Nigeria