THE CENTRE for Democracy and Development (CDD) has named its headquarters building in Abuja after its founding director, Dr Kayode Fayemi.
Unveiled in a ceremony hedl at the CDD headquarters in Abuja on Friday, February 7, 2025, the event coincided with the 60th birthday anniversary of Dr Fayemi, who was governor of Ekiti State in two different tenures and Minister of Solid Minerals Development under the Buhari administration.
In his remarks at the event, Comrade John Odah, the Chair, International Governing Council (IGC) of CDD,said the decision to name CDD’s first building after Fayemis as its pioneer director to honour him not only for his services to CDD but also to the Nigerian and African civil society as well as for his exemplary role as a champion of democracy and dedicated public servant.
“Let us put it on record that we have chosen Dr Fayemi’s 60th anniversary to honour him for his service to our organization, to the Nigerian and indeed the African continent’s Civil society and for his leadership role as a champion of democracy and a dedicated public servant, who as governor of his home state of Ekiti did a lot to practicalize good governance.
“During his second term as governor he was entrusted by his peers, the other 35 state governors to lead them as chairman of the Nigerian Governors Forum.
“Similarity as minister of the strategic Ministry of Solid Minerals Development, he chaired the board of Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI), and did a lot to improve the governance structure of our mineral sector and enhancing the revenue base of the country,” Comrade Odah stated.
In a brief narrative, Odah revealed how the CDD emerged in 1997 in London.
“Those of our guests that attended the commemorative symposium and the launch of the Amandla Institute yesterday must have heard from Prof Bayo Olukoshi how a number of them – young Nigerians and West African activists; some post graduate students, some driven out of their countries for sundry reasons of political persecution and intolerance by the prevailing authoritarian regimes in the respective countries of the West African subregion, came together to establish the CDD in 1997 in London.
“The organisation later moved from London to Accra and subsequently anchored its head office in Nigeria, and over this period, played a critical role in our quest for democracy, good governance and development in our subregion.”
Odah further revealed that Fayemi served as director for the first nine years of CDD’S formation with impactful foundational role.
Odah assured Fayemi of the commitment of the current leadership of CDD to building “on the solid foundation that he and other past leaders of this organisation has bequeathed to us.”
Odah further stated: “We are currently in an advance stage of finalising a new Strategic Plan of the Centre. As we work towards the 30th anniversary of CDD, we are keeping in focus some of the ideas which Your Excellency had been associated with, such as a research, fellowship endowment and a relaunch of the CDD endowment fund with the objective of consolidating the foundation of this organisation.
The current director of CDD, Dr Dauda Garuba, in his remarks, stated that while working under Fayemi as a young programmes officer, described the experience as formative and deeply influential.
He testified on the opportunities and mentorship that he and others received noting how these defined his early career, noting the full-circle moment of now leading the very organisation where he was once nurtured.
On his part, Fayemi reminisced about the bold vision that led to the founding of CDD in 1997 and the vital role the organisation has played in shaping the civil society architecture in Nigeria and across Africa. He also took a moment to honour the late Tajudeen Abdulraheem, after whom another CDD building has been named, recognising his immense contributions to the organisation and the broader pan-African movement for democracy and social justice.
Prof Jibrin Ibrahim, a former director and currently a Fellow of CDD, who is also a member of CDD’s governing structure, while delivering the vote of thanks, acknowledged Fayemi’s enduring legacy in democracy and governance.
He emphasised CDD’s commitment to preserving and expanding on the foundation laid by its founders, ensuring the centre remains at the forefront of policy research, civic engagement, and democratic development in West Africa.
