The Special Adviser to Ekiti State Governor on Rural and Community
Development, Chief Folorunsho Olabode has stressed the importance of
government engaging the people to know their actual needs before
embarking on any projects in their communities.
Speaking in Ado Ekiti at a 2 day capacity building workshop for Public
Officers on Open Government Partnership (OGP) and Inclusive Community
Development in Ekiti State, Olabode noted that such practice would
give the people a real sense of ownership projects sited implemented
in their communities
According to him, the Open Government Partnership (OGP) is aimed at
making governments more open, accountable and responsive to citizens
globally, adding that it was launched in September 2011 while Nigeria
subscribed to the initiative in 2016.
Olabode also noted that Ekiti State was the first in the South western
part of the country to sign into the programme in January 2020.
He explained that OGP requires that people be involved in projects
identification and implementations, stressing that once it is
participatory, it will be easier for the people to take ownership of
such projects and enhance good governance.
In his remarks, the Executive Secretary, Bureau of Rural and Community
Development, Mr. Segun Olusola affirmed that the Governor Fayemi led
administration has been engaging the grassroots in governance
processes adding that this has been one of the vital procedure the
present administration follows in the preparation of the annual budget.
In his contributions, the General Manager of the Broadcasting Service
of Ekiti State (BSES), Mr. Olu Popoola called for adequate engagement
between Government and community people, saying that this will ensure
mutual trust between both parties and enhance Open Government
Partnership.
Mr. Uchenna Arisukwu from the African Centre for Leadership, Strategy
and Development (Centre LSD) while expatiating on OGP stressed the
importance of government involving grassroots citizens in governance
processes in order to make them take ownership of projects sited in
their communities.
The first leg of the workshop had Senior Public Officers in attendance
while the second leg was attended by Local Government Executives and
Councilors from eight local governments including Ado, Ekiti East,
Ekiti West, Ilejemeje, Ikere, Irepodun/Ifelodun, Ise-Orun and Oye.