In a significant development for Nigerian civil society, the Temvert Empowerment Foundation has received official accreditation to participate in a major global trade gathering.
Securing a Seat at the Global Table
The foundation, a Nigerian non-governmental organisation dedicated to youth development, will send a delegation to the 14th World Trade Organisation (WTO) Ministerial Conference (MC14). This high-level event is scheduled for 26 to 29 March 2026 in Yaoundé, Cameroon.
According to a communication from the conference administrators, Temvert Foundation has been granted the right to be represented by up to four members at the forum. The conference will bring together trade ministers and officials from across the world to deliberate on the future of the multilateral trading system.
Building on International Engagement
This accreditation marks another step in the foundation's growing international profile. It follows their recent involvement in the 2025 World Bank Group and IMF Annual Meetings Civil Society Policy Forum held in Washington, DC.
Speaking on the achievement, the founder, Temitayo Olatunde, stated that the invitation aligns perfectly with the organisation's core mission. "I see this as more than an invitation," Olatunde said. He connected the WTO's goal of improving lives through trade to the foundation's work in preparing people to seize those opportunities.
Olatunde elaborated on the critical link between education and meaningful economic participation. He stressed that keeping children in school provides the foundational skills needed for future employment, entrepreneurship, and productive roles in society.
Advocating for Grassroots Voices in Policy
"When too many children drop out of school, communities lose talent, and the benefits of trade end up reaching only a few," Olatunde explained. "Our planned empowerment programme is built around that gap. We are helping students stay in school and adding practical support that can turn education into opportunity."
He used the platform to call on international bodies to integrate perspectives from the grassroots level into their policy-making processes from the outset. "Grassroots voices should be part of policy design from the beginning, because the people living the reality are often the ones with the clearest answers," he added.
The foundation's attendance at MC14 will provide a direct channel to engage with global trade stakeholders, share knowledge, and explore strategies to expand its youth empowerment initiatives in Nigeria.
This participation not only underscores Nigeria's evolving role in international trade discussions but also highlights the increasingly important part civil society organisations play in bridging the gap between global policies and tangible local benefits.
