Building Power, Not Just Awareness: Kelly-Daniel Oshiogwemue Leads Workshop on Citizen Participation

As part of the Emerging Political Leaders Fellowship’s core Civic Engagement requirement, Fellow Kelly Daniel Oshiogwemue organized a transformative workshop titled “Empowering Citizens Participation through Community Organizing” on August 15, 2025.

Originally scheduled to take place at the American Space in Benin City, Edo State, the activity faced an unexpected setback when the venue became unavailable. Rather than let this obstacle derail the plan, Kelly Daniel quickly adapted, transitioning the session into a virtual workshop. This swift response not only kept the momentum alive but also reflected one of the core principles of civic leadership, adaptability and resilience in the face of change.

Bringing together 20 students and young civic leaders, the workshop aimed to deepen participants’ understanding of community organizing as a tool for collective action and sustained impact. It emphasized that true community organizing goes beyond charity, advocacy, or political campaigns; it is about mobilizing people to identify shared challenges, build relationships, and take strategic action that leads to lasting systemic change.

Key Outcomes

One of the defining moments of the session was the introduction of a Five Step Framework for Effective Community Organizing, which became the cornerstone of learning. Participants were guided through:

1. Research and Relationship Building: Understanding communities, identifying stakeholders, and developing trust based relationships that drive collaboration.
   
2. Issue Identification and Problem Analysis: Breaking down complex problems into actionable community issues that can be tackled collectively.
   
3. Goal Setting and Strategy Development: Mapping out clear, achievable objectives and strategies for change.
   
4. Action and Implementation: Translating plans into coordinated action, whether through campaigns, advocacy, or grassroots mobilization.
   
5. Evaluation and Sustainability: Measuring outcomes and building systems to sustain progress over time.
   

Through breakout discussions and practical exercises, participants applied these concepts to real community challenges such as improving campus safety, public infrastructure, and advocating for transparent local budgets. The energy in the virtual room was palpable as participants realized that citizens’ voices can shape systems when organized strategically.

By the end of the session, each participant walked away with practical tools and renewed confidence to drive meaningful change in their spheres of influence. They understood that organizing is not about noise, but about strategy, consistency, and community power.

Lessons Learnt

Reflecting on the experience, several valuable lessons emerged from both the facilitation and participation process:

1. Adaptability is Key: The shift from a physical to a virtual format reinforced the importance of flexibility in civic engagement work. Even with sudden logistical changes, impact can still be achieved when purpose is prioritized over convenience.
   
2. Technology as an Enabler: The virtual platform enabled participation from diverse locations, proving that digital tools can bridge physical gaps and expand civic learning opportunities.
   
3. Engagement through Interaction: Despite being online, participants remained actively engaged through breakout rooms, polls, and discussions, highlighting that active learning thrives on interaction, not just information.
   
4. The Power of Collective Reflection: Many participants expressed that understanding community organizing through relatable, real life issues helped them connect theory with practice. This reinforced the belief that change begins with awareness, but it is sustained through collaboration.
   

Kelly Daniel reflected, “This experience taught me that community organizing is not about having the perfect plan; it is about being ready to adapt, connect, and keep moving forward with people who share your vision for change.”

Next Steps and Way Forward

To ensure the learning extended beyond the workshop, participants were challenged to translate insights into immediate action. Each was encouraged to:

1. Hold at least three one on one conversations with peers or neighbors about pressing community issues.
   
2. Join or identify an existing community based organization to deepen their civic engagement practice.
   
3. Follow up with someone they met during the workshop to build ongoing collaboration.
   
4. Attend a local government meeting or public hearing before the end of the month to experience civic participation firsthand.
   
5. Research a local issue affecting their community and develop a potential strategy for engagement.
   

These action points were designed to help participants transition from awareness to agency, from learning to leading.

Conclusion

In a country like Nigeria, where over 70 percent of the population is under 30, civic engagement remains a powerful avenue for shaping governance and development. Yet, participation often ends at the ballot box. Kelly Daniel’s civic activity challenged this norm by demonstrating that citizen action is most impactful when it is organized, strategic, and community driven.

Through this initiative, the Emerging Political Leaders Fellowship once again showcased how young leaders can drive transformation, not by waiting for change to happen, but by organizing people and ideas to make change inevitable.

As one participant summarized beautifully, “Now I see that true power does not just come from politics, it comes from people who come together to act.”

Kelly Daniel’s activity did more than teach community organizing; it ignited a movement of young Nigerians ready to turn civic consciousness into civic power.