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CSAAE

CSAAE is an international nonprofit dedicated to empowering catalysts of better societies. The Centre envisions a better society where all can find support and encouragement to work hard, live in dignity and feel proud to belong.

The founder, Dr. Godswill Agbagwa – priest, ethicist and development practitioner – grew up in Nigeria. His experience with poverty as a teenager led him to dedicate his priestly ministry to empowering young people with the skills, resources and ethical values necessary to build better societies where all can find support and encouragement to work hard, live in dignity and feel proud to belong.

In 2013, while studying in the United States as a graduate student, he decided to launch CSAAE as a platform to pursue this dream.

Vision

A better society where all can find support and encouragement to work hard, live in dignity and feel proud to belong.

Mission

To equip young people with the skills, resources and ethical values necessary to build better societies.

Motto

Together we can make our society a better place.

Theory of change

If young people are empowered with the right skills, appropriate resources and sound ethical values, they become catalysts of better societies.

Core Values (PICAS)

  • Punctuality
  • Integrity
  • Creativity
  • Accountability
  • Solidarity

CSAAE pursues its vision through three distinct, but interrelated program areas designed to empower catalysts of better societies with the right skills, appropriate resources and sound ethical values.

A Socioeconomic Program that Fosters:

Entrepreneurship, Youth and Women Empowerment; Quality and Inclusive Primary Education; Quality and Inclusive Primary Healthcare; Environmental Sustainability and Climate Change Mitigation.

An Advocacy Program that Advocates for:

 Human Rights, Rule of Law, Anticorruption and Good Governance.

An Ethics Program that Promotes:

Ethical Leadership, Professional and Business Ethics.

CSAAE carries out its operations from its head office in Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria, with technical support from its office in Maryland, United States.

CSAAE is a registered nonprofit in Nigeria; a 501(c3) nonprofit in the United Staes; an organisation in special consultative status with the United Nations’ ECOSOC and former representative of African CSOs at the World Bank and IMF Civil Societies Working Group.

The History of CSAAE

The founder, Dr. Godswill Agbagwa – priest, ethicist and development practitioner – grew up in Nigeria. His experience with poverty as a teenager led him to dedicate his priestly ministry to integral social and human development. In 2010, while studying abroad as a graduate student, he decided to establish CSAAE as a platform to advance integral social and human development in Africa and across the world. The five core values at the foundation of his work at CSAAE include: Punctuality, Integrity, Creativity, Accountability and Solidarity (PICAS)

Struggles and Aspirations
Poverty set in quickly after his father's death, and young Uchenna and his siblings struggled to meet basic needs like food, medical care, and tuition. He dreamed of a better Nigeria, inspired by false promises from a corrupt military junta about a prosperous future. Despite the harsh reality, these dreams persisted.

Dedication to Social and Human Development
Ordained a priest in December 2003, Dr. Agbagwa's experiences with poverty led him to focus his ministry on social and human development. His passion intensified in 2008 while studying in the United States. Witnessing basic amenities in developed countries, he questioned why such necessities were luxuries in Nigeria, strengthening his commitment to addressing poverty and underdevelopment.

Forming the Vision
As a graduate student, Dr. Agbagwa studied the root causes of poverty in Africa. He concluded that leadership failures, loss of social and moral sense, and lack of entrepreneurial spirit were key issues. He believed that empowering young people could transform Nigeria. Thus, he established CSAAE, focusing on the youth who make up 62% of Africa’s population.

CSAAE is a registered NGO in Nigeria; a 501(c3) nonprofit in the United Staes; an organization in special consultative status with the United Nations’ ECOSOC and former representative of African civil societies at the World Bank and IMF civil societies working group. The Centre carries out its operations from its head office in Owerri, Nigeria, with technical support from its U.S. office in Maryland.

Launching CSAAE and Initial Programs
CSAAE was registered in Nigeria in 2010 and in the United States in 2013. Activities began in December 2013, inspired by his late mother's encouragement. The Centre started with the Emerging Leaders Program (ELP), which evolved into the Effective Leaders Program (ELP), promoting effective leadership across various sectors.

Career Building and Entrepreneurship Program (CBEP) and SEACON
The Centre launched two additional programs: CBEP and SEACON. CBEP helps young people with education, enterprise launching, and job securing, while SEACON focuses on training youth to fight corruption and promote good governance.

Evolving Programs and Rebranding
Interest in SEACON led to its rebranding as the Youth Ethics and Anticorruption Program (YEAP), and eventually to the Good Governance, Rule of Law, Anticorruption, and Human Rights Program (GRAHP). This expanded the program's reach beyond youth to all citizens, maintaining a focus on governance, rule of law, anticorruption, and human rights.

About the Founder

Godswill Uchenna Agbagwa

Father Agbagwa hails from Umueze Amaimo, Imo State, Nigeria. He excelled academically from primary to secondary education, graduating with distinction. He pursued his undergraduate studies at Seat of Wisdom Major Seminary Owerri, where he graduated at the top of his class in philosophy, theology, and religion. He furthered his education with a master’s degree in legal and ethical studies from the University of Baltimore and obtained a licentiate in theology from Sacred Heart Seminary Detroit. He completed his doctoral studies in moral theology & ethics at the Catholic University of America, focusing on Catholic social teaching.

Father Agbagwa's personal encounter with poverty during his youth inspired his commitment to social and human development. Ordained in 2003, he served in various pastoral roles in Nigeria before pursuing postgraduate studies in the United States. While studying, he continued his social development work as a chaplain at Catholic Charities of Baltimore, engaging in research and teaching at various institutions. He founded CSAAE and CASTINA, organizations dedicated to promoting good governance, education, entrepreneurship, and effective leadership.

Father Agbagwa's expertise in social and human development has garnered international recognition. He represented African Civil Societies at the World Bank and IMF and spoke at prestigious events such as the Harvard University African Development Conference. His organizations have received special consultative status at the United Nations’ Economic and Social Commission (ECOSOC). He is a prolific writer and speaker on social development issues and has authored several books and articles. He has received numerous awards, including the most achieving alumnus award from Seat of Wisdom Major Seminary.