Pan-Africanism and the Role of Nigeria’s Civil Society in Advancing Continental Unity

This study examines the role of Nigerian civil society organisations, diaspora associations, and advocacy networks in promoting Pan-African ideas and continental unity, assessing their influence on Nigeria's official foreign policy posture on African integration. Pan-Africanism has been a normative pillar of Nigeria's foreign policy since independence, yet the practical content of this commitment is shaped by a complex ecology of state and non-state actors. Drawing on social movement theory and the transnational advocacy network framework, this research investigates selected civil society organisations actively engaged in Pan-African advocacy, including academic institutions, youth organisations, and professional associations, from 2020 to 2024. The study focuses on organisations based in the South West zone, particularly Lagos and Ibadan, given their historical centrality to Nigerian Pan-African intellectual production. A qualitative methodology is employed, combining semi-structured interviews with CSO leaders and analysis of advocacy campaigns, publications, and engagement with the African Union. Findings are expected to show that while Nigerian civil society maintains a vibrant Pan-African intellectual tradition, its translation into concrete foreign policy advocacy is limited by fragmentation, funding constraints, and weak formal channels for civil society input into foreign policy-making. Recommendations address mechanisms for enhancing civil society participation in Nigeria's African policy formulation. Keywords: Pan-Africanism, civil society, Nigeria, African integration, advocacy networks.