Part 1 of this documentary features the emergence of contemporary civil society organisations from a series of historical civic and activist movements, dating back to the Pre-independence/Colonial era, and progressing to the Independence era/First Republic, Post-Civil War and military rule period and Post-Second Republic.
It features the emergence of groups such as the Civil Liberties Organisation (CLO), being Nigeria’s first human rights organisation, Constitutional Rights Project (CRP), Committee for the Defence of Human Rights, Campaign for Democracy (CD) and National Democratic Coalition (NDC). These groups complimented the struggles of students, market women, trade unions and professional bodies for democracy, accountability, human rights and social justice.