From 2017 to 2020, Verbatim Virtual Solutions played a catalytic role in Nigeria’s governance landscape, delivering over 25 consulting assignments under the PERL-ARC Programme, funded by the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO). Operating through DAI, PERL-ARC aimed to strengthen governance systems, improve citizen engagement, and embed accountability practices across federal and state levels.

Delivering through the Verbatim Virtual Solutions Executive Director, our work integrated evidence, political economy insight, reform action, coalition building, public accountability, and adaptive learning. Working at the intersection of political systems, knowledge stewardship, and citizen agency, Verbatim consistently strengthened governance institutions, accelerated reform learning, scaled innovations, and amplified citizen-centered outcomes.

Building Governance Knowledge Systems Across Nigeria

Verbatim’s work focused on documenting reforms in core governance areas — from service delivery improvements in education, health, and water resources, to institutional strengthening in planning, budgeting, and accountability mechanisms.

At the heart of Verbatim’s engagement was the conviction that governance reforms must be politically smart, locally owned, and grounded in citizen needs. To achieve this, Verbatim deployed a full spectrum of governance capabilities. Deliverables included:

Reform Compendium capturing Kaduna’s governance reforms (2015–2019): In Kaduna, Verbatim’s production of the Governance Reform Compendium stood out as a flagship achievement. Rather than presenting dry data, Verbatim wove together reform narratives, citizen testimonials, photo-documentaries, and video interviews, creating a dynamic repository of reform evidence that policymakers, civil society, and international partners could use for learning, replication, and advocacy.

Support to Women’s participation in Politics and governance: Our work included developing advocacy stories and citizen-focused materials on women’s political participation including Verbatim’s support to the Women in Governance Learning Event is another testament to this commitment, highlighting strategies for expanding female participation in political leadership and decision-making.

Citizen engagement platforms and CSO coalition building: Working with State Planning and Budget Commissions, sector ministries, citizen groups, and media organizations, Verbatim fostered multi-stakeholder coalitions that championed reform ownership and sustainability. Verbatim’s coalition-building support enabled over 10 learning platforms and regional dialogues, facilitating cross-state reform replication and building local capacity for sustained governance improvements.

Geographically, Verbatim supported governance learning and citizen engagement across:

• Federal Level — policy learning hubs and national engagements
• Core States — Kaduna, Kano, Jigawa
• Regional Hubs — South-West (Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Osun, Ondo, Ekiti), South-East (Enugu, Anambra, Abia, Ebonyi, Imo), and North-East (Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno, Gombe, Taraba, Yobe)

Partners included State Executive Councils, State Planning and Budget Commissions, local ministries and agencies, civil society organizations, research hubs like AfriHeritage and Development Strategy Centre (DSC), media partners, and grassroots citizen platforms.

Strengthening Governance Ecosystems and Enabling Reform Replication

Verbatim’s contributions were not confined to isolated reform spaces—they catalyzed system-wide learning and replication.

In partnership with knowledge hubs like the African Heritage Institution (AfriHeritage), the South-East Governors Forum, and the DAWN Commission in the South-West, Verbatim supported the development of strategic learning products, peer dialogue platforms, and evidence-to-policy pathways. These hubs became important drivers of cross-state reform replication, sustaining the momentum for change long after initial interventions concluded.

By working closely with citizen groups and civil society organizations, Verbatim also strengthened social accountability mechanisms, empowering citizens to engage more effectively with public budgeting processes, service delivery monitoring, and policy advocacy.

In a governance environment often marked by fragmented efforts and siloed knowledge, Verbatim’s emphasis on politically smart coalitions, iterative learning, and citizen empowerment offered a sustainable model for governance strengthening.

Driving Progress Towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Throughout its engagements, Verbatim Virtual Solutions contributed meaningfully to the global development agenda. The organization’s work strengthened SDG 16 (Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions) by building accountable governance systems and enhancing citizen participation; directly advanced SDG 5 (Gender Equality) through interventions promoting women’s leadership in governance spaces; and supported SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals) by facilitating multi-sector coalitions that drove evidence-based reforms and cross-state learning.

Methodologies Deployed for Sustainable Impact

Through every assignment, Verbatim reinforced the principle that sustainable governance reform is not an external imposition—it is a citizen-led, evidence-driven, and politically smart endeavor. In every engagement, Verbatim operationalized key methodologies that reflect cutting-edge development thinking. Using Problem-Driven Iterative Adaptation (PDIA), Verbatim supported reformers to diagnose challenges locally, test strategies iteratively, and embed adaptive learning into their institutional practice. Through a Creating Public Value (CPV) lens, Verbatim helped ensure that reform initiatives were responsive to citizen needs, fostering trust and legitimacy between governments and the governed.

Legacy and Pathways Forward

Verbatim’s contributions under PERL-ARC left behind more than deliverables—they helped seed a culture of adaptive governance, cross-sector collaboration, and citizen-centered reform. By integrating political insight, strategic knowledge management, coalition facilitation, and public engagement communications, Verbatim Virtual Solutions demonstrated how governance programming can move beyond transactional reforms to deliver systemic, scalable, and sustainable change. As Nigeria and other nations continue to navigate complex political and governance challenges, the lessons, methodologies, and partnerships built through Verbatim’s work remain powerful building blocks for the future.