The Africa Polling Institute (API) has trained policy executives and media practitioners on advancing social cohesion as part of efforts to strengthen national unity, inclusive governance, and evidence based public communication in Nigeria.
The two day capacity building workshop, supported by the Ford Foundation, brought together government officials, communication experts, editors, journalists, digital content creators, and development practitioners.
The training focused on equipping participants to serve as champions of social cohesion and explored practical approaches to fostering trust, inclusion, peaceful coexistence, and responsible public discourse in an increasingly polarised society.
Delivering the keynote address, the Executive Director of the Institute, Prof. Bell Ihua, described social cohesion as a critical driver of national development.
“Social cohesion goes beyond peaceful coexistence. It reflects the strength of relationships among citizens, trust in institutions, shared sense of belonging, civic participation, inclusion, and collective commitment to national development,” he said.
Prof. Ihua noted that social cohesion has become an important global development indicator, particularly in societies grappling with economic hardship, insecurity, misinformation, and declining public trust.
He identified key indicators for measuring social cohesion, including interpersonal trust, confidence in institutions, social inclusion, civic participation, tolerance for diversity, and perceptions of fairness and justice.
Drawing on survey data generated by the Institute, he stressed the importance of data driven policymaking, noting that credible data enables stakeholders to design interventions that strengthen unity rather than deepen divisions.
Also speaking at the workshop, media and communication specialist, Odoh Diego Okeyondo, led a practical session on data storytelling, demonstrating how journalists can transform complex survey findings into engaging content through infographics, videos, and social media formats.
“The goal is to simplify data without losing accuracy and to create narratives that resonate with audiences while remaining evidence based,” Okeyondo said.
Other resource persons delivered presentations on the core principles of social cohesion, navigating diversity and pluralism, and other issues of national interest.
The Institute also announced its National Social Cohesion Dialogue 2026, themed, “Strengthening the Role of Religious and Traditional Institutions as Key Agents of Social Cohesion.
The dialogue is scheduled to hold on June 25, 2026, in Abuja and is expected to bring together key stakeholders to discuss strategies for promoting national unity and social stability.
