Draft:Shehu Musa Yar'Adua Foundation

Introduction
The Shehu Musa Yar'Adua Foundation is a non-profit organization established by the friends, family and associates of Shehu Yar'Adua to inspire future generations with his life of service. . Founded in February 1998, the Foundation is dedicated to promoting national unity, good governance and social justice in Nigeria

Vision
A Nigeria united across ethnic and religious divides, committed to justice and democracy.

Mission
To promote national unity, good governance, and social justice by creating platforms to engage citizens, policymakers, and stakeholders in national conversations that foster an inclusive and prosperous Nigeria.

History and Background of the Foundation
Shehu Musa Yar'Adua, was a figure in Nigeria's political history. Born on March 5, 1943 in Katsina State, Yar'Adua joined the Nigerian Army in 1961 and quickly rose through the ranks , playing a crucial role during the Nigerian Civil War.

After his military career, Yar'Adua transitioned to play a role in Nigeria's pro-democracy movement. His political vision was one of a unified, democratic Nigeria, transcending ethnic and regional divisions. In the mid-1990s, he was an influential voice against military rule, advocating for democratic governance. His activism was not without consequence; he was arrested and imprisoned in 1995 for allegedly plotting a coup against the military government of General Sani Abacha.

Tragically, Yar'Adua died in custody in 1997, a martyr to the cause of democracy. His death was a pivotal moment in Nigeria's political history, galvanizing opposition to military rule and paving the way for the return of civilian governance. Yar'Adua's legacy continues to influence Nigerian politics, particularly his dedication to democracy, national unity, and inclusive governance.

The Shehu Musa Yar'Adua Foundation was established after his death to honor his legacy of service. During its first decade a series of high-profile memorial lectures featured prominent global leaders including President Nelson Mandela, Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto and President Paul Kagame who paid tribute to his sacrifice.

Public Policy Initiative
In 2010, the Yar’Adua Foundation began focusing on the formulation and implementation of sustainable public policy by establishing the Public Policy Initiative. With support from international development partners and donors, the Foundation’s Public Policy Initiative has significantly impacted Nigeria’s governance processes related to credible elections, resource governance, climate advocacy, gender justice, and governance and accountability.

Governance and Accountability
Goal: To shift societal norms towards transparency and accountability by adopting a community-driven approach to combat corruption.

Gender Justice
Goal: To foster a just and equitable society for all citizens in Nigeria by actively promoting gender equality and supporting the participation of women in public leadership, particularly in the areas of peace building and violence prevention.

Civic Space
Goal: To strengthen Nigeria's democracy by protecting, promoting, and nurturing the civic space and supporting key players within it.

Resource Governance and Climate Advocacy
Goal: To shape climate change policy and action in Nigeria, ensuring community needs and perspectives are at the forefront of national and international debates and initiatives.

Exhibition Hall - Shehu Musa Yar'Adua: A Life of Service
The exhibition of Shehu Musa Yar’Adua: A Life of Service is presented against the backdrop of Nigerian history. It navigates through key periods:  independence, the Nigerian civil war, various military interventions, and the fight for a democratic nation. The exhibition highlights Shehu Musa Yar’Adua’s memorable impact on the overall development of Nigeria.

Research Library
The Research Library stands as a testament to Shehu Yar’Adua’s legacy as an avid reader. It houses Shehu Yar’Adua’s personal collection, comprised of his papers, notes, documents, speeches, journals, and reports from the civil war through his time in government, politics, business, and imprisonment.

The library provides information resources and reference services to members of the public. It also houses a collection of local and international novels, as well as children’s literature.

Achievements

 * 1) The Foundation’s climate advocacy has helped inform and frame Nigeria’s policy approach to climate change . This has been achieved through producing and disseminating influential documentaries including Nowhere to Run and Swallow.
 * 2) The Foundation has excelled in utilizing innovative communication approaches for policy advocacy through the production of videos that have preceded and helped frame popular social conversations like I Am Not Corrupt, Sex for Grades and #EndSARS.
 * 3) As the only civil society organization nominated to the Risk Communication and Community Engagement Committee of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19, the Foundation contributed significantly to the national pandemic response through the production of videos to create awareness and encourage citizens to act responsibly to contain further spread of COVID-19 in Nigeria.
 * 4) The Foundation developed and implemented a Human Rights Incident Management Portal for the National Human Rights Commission to improve its capacity for effective case management, tracking and documenting human rights abuses across the country.
 * 5) The Foundation has contributed to the growth of civic space in Nigeria through the management of the Joint Civic Defense Fund, which has provided vital support to frontline civic and media activists, as well as at-risk NGOs.

Awards

 * 1) Service Award, 2023 – National Female Student Association of Nigeria
 * 2) Youth Foundation of the Year, 2022 – Nigerian Youth Congress & Nigerian Youth Parliament
 * 3) Grand Jury Award (Best Overall Film), 2016 - Green Me Berlin Film Festival
 * 4) Best Documentary, 2016
 * 5) * The African Film Festival (TAFF), Dallas
 * 6) * Eko International Festival, Lagos
 * 7) * The Africa International Film Festival (AFRIFF), Lagos
 * 8) * Nigeria Integrity Film Awards (HOMEVIDA), Lagos
 * 9) Partnership Award (for supporting the struggle for ecological justice and plenary sustainability), 2015 – Health of Mother Earth Foundation