The Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA) has named civil rights advocate Auwal Musa Rafsanjani as Chairman of its Advisory Board following a board election held over the weekend.
In a statement by its Executive Director, Akinbode Oluwafemi, CAPPA said Rafsanjani’s appointment marks a renewed mandate to strengthen its advocacy for public accountability, environmental justice and protection of civic space across Africa.
Rafsanjani, who heads the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) and serves as Nigeria’s Head of Transparency International, also chairs the Board of Trustees of Amnesty International Nigeria and leads the Zero Corruption Coalition.
He has over three decades of experience in human rights, anti-corruption reforms, and legislative advocacy.
CAPPA expressed confidence that his leadership would boost its campaigns at a time when civic space is shrinking and communities face growing economic and environmental risks.
Other members of the board include Oluwafemi as Secretary, Evelyn Nkanga Bassey as Treasurer, and activists Scott Pegg, Kayode Ogunbunmi, Betty Abah, and Doifie Buokoribo.
Speaking after his election, Rafsanjani pledged to position CAPPA as a fearless defender of public interest, focusing on public health, extractive justice, and democratic governance.
The board also warned against Nigeria’s “reckless” push in the solid minerals sector, noting that the global race for lithium and other green minerals is driving land grabs, displacement, and environmental degradation.
It cautioned that without strong regulation and community consent, the country risks repeating the Niger Delta’s resource crisis.
CAPPA called for a people-centred resource policy that prioritises environmental protection and equitable development, urging Nigerians to resist models that enrich a few while impoverishing many. It reaffirmed its commitment to working with labour, youth, and grassroots movements to promote transparency and public participation across the continent.
Source; The Nation News