Chief Oyedijo (right) receiving the award from the representatives of the organizers
Nigerian civil society leader and community development expert, Chief Aare Oluwasegun Oyedijo, has received the United Nations Ambassador of National Volunteerism Policy and System Leadership Award in recognition of his contributions to civil society development, policy advocacy and community engagement.
Oyedijo received the award at Nigeria’s first National Volunteer Conference, organised to commemorate the United Nations International Year of Volunteers for Sustainable Development 2026.
The conference brought together government officials, policymakers, development partners, civil society organisations and volunteer practitioners to explore ways of strengthening volunteerism and harnessing its potential for national development.
The award comes amid increasing calls for a stronger national framework to coordinate volunteer activities, promote citizen participation and enhance collaboration between government institutions and civil society organisations.
Oyedijo’s development work has focused on strengthening civil society organisations, building institutional capacity and promoting partnerships among public institutions, development partners and community-based organisations.
He serves as National Coordinator of the Support for Civil Society Organisations Initiative (S4CSOI) and Country Director of Saffron Social Development Global Foundation, where his engagements span community development, child safeguarding, youth empowerment, education and social inclusion.
Oyedijo’s advocacy emphasises the need to move volunteerism beyond individual acts of goodwill by establishing sustainable policies and institutions capable of translating citizens’ contributions into measurable development outcomes.
A well-coordinated national volunteerism framework, supported by effective accountability mechanisms, could enable organisations to mobilise volunteers more efficiently and align their activities with development priorities at national, state and community levels.
Participants at the conference examined strategies for integrating volunteerism into development planning and strengthening partnerships among government agencies, civil society groups and the private sector.
Oyedijo’s recognition also highlights the growing importance of organised volunteer networks in addressing social challenges and complementing the efforts of public institutions and development partners.
As a project management professional, certified social worker and public policy advocate, Oyedijo has been involved in initiatives aimed at promoting institutional accountability, protecting vulnerable populations and expanding opportunities for young people and underserved communities.
His work in civil society system strengthening and sustainable community development has focused on improving the capacity of organisations to deliver social interventions and contribute to broader development goals.
The award underscores the role of volunteerism as a tool for sustainable development and the importance of building institutional structures that can support meaningful citizen participation.
For Oyedijo, the honour recognises his contributions to civil society development while drawing attention to the need for Nigeria to strengthen its volunteerism policies, coordination systems and partnerships to maximise the impact of volunteer-led initiatives.
Chief Aare Oluwasegun Oyedijo is a community development expert and civil society leader. He is the National Coordinator of the Support for Civil Society Organisations Initiative and Country Director of Saffron Social Development Global Foundation.
His areas of engagement include civil society system strengthening, child safeguarding, youth empowerment, education, social inclusion and sustainable community development.