By Nsan Ndoma-Neji, Calabar
A non-for profit organization, operating in Nigeria under the aegis of African Centre for Leadership, Strategic and Development, Centre LSD, with support from the Macarthur Foundation, have concluded the training of 20 journalists on Open Government Participation, OGP, in Calabar, the Cross River State capital in South-South Nigeria.
With the training, the journalists have been equipped on how to hold government of their respective states accountable with regards to implementation of the National Action Plan.
Speaking at the training session, during the two-day capacity building programme, which took place at Keeves Hotel,of Murtala Muhammed Highway, Calabar, the Executive Director, Centre LSD, Monday Osasah, charged participants to utilize the pool of resources afforded them, lauding the resource persons for the indepth lecture on the topic taught.
Osasah stated that the training will help to build capacity of journalists on how to engage government of their respective states to account for what they do with funds meant for developmental projects.
The two-day training, which featured journalists from Akwa Ibom, Imo, Kogi, Abia, Delta, Anambra, and Cross River states, as well as the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Abuja, had Mr. Edetaen Ojo as a resource person, who tutored the media men.
Day one featured the following topics: What Open Government Participation Is; The Role of the Media in Open Government Participation Process; an overview of Nigeria’s National Action Plan, and Nigeria’s Governance and Management/Coordination Framework.
Day two featured The Role of States in Open Government Participation Process, using open government to promote and ensure media freedom.
At the end of the training session, participants developed a media plan for the engagement of Open Government Participation, OGP, process in Nigeria.
Edetaen stressed that the Open Government Participation project is an opportunity to get involved in building a better society.
OGP, which was found in 2011, has it’s membership grown up to 77 countries and 76 local jurisdictions that work alongside thousands of civil society organizations.
Every two years, each member submits an action plan co-created with civil society that outlines concrete commitments to enhance transparency, accountability and public participation in government.
