Following his release from General Sani Abacha’s prison as a prisoner of conscience, Dr. Beko Ransome Kuti was awarded a grant by the Ford Foundation to enable him tour the United States, Britain, South Africa, Ghana and Uganda. The objective of the tour was to provide the opportunity for the study of the variety of mechanisms used in achieving a vibrant society and building sustainable democratic movement.

Although the strategies vary, all countries however share similarities in the clarity of aims and objectives in the development of a professional class of workers with a clear strategy for mass movement for democracy and for a high level of internal democracy in these countries.

Based on his experience during the tour and having identified some of the basic root causes of the people’s disaffection about the running of affairs in Nigeria, Dr. Beko Ransome Kuti liaised with other like-minded individuals to establish an organization concerned with advocacy, research and training; an institution that would work towards empowering the civil society to establish and maintain a sustainable democracy in Nigeria.

Accordingly, CCG was set up in 1998 to educate Nigerians on their civic rights and responsibilities, promote good governance at all levels , and protect the constitutional and fundamental rights of citizens, irrespective of State,. Origin and socio-economic attainments