We marked a significant milestone at our Innovation Campus on Tuesday 14th, November 2023, as we successfully hosted a Stakeholder Interactive Engagement on ‘Empowering Citizens Through Information.’ This event, in line with our collaboration with the Digital Rights and Information Partnership (DRIP) Cluster, was a crucial step towards achieving the objectives of the USAID Strengthening Civil Advocacy and Local Engagements (SCALE) project for the domestication of the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act in Adamawa State, Nigeria.
Overview of the Event
The engagement, held at the Northeast Innovation Campus in Jimeta, gathered key stakeholders, including government officials, civil society organizations, media representatives, and the general public. The primary goal was to raise awareness about the importance of the FOI Act and its potential benefits for citizens and governance in Adamawa State.
The NEHIH, a social innovation center, spearheaded the event with a commitment to approaching social challenges through an ‘out-of-the-box’ approach, inspired by human-centered design thinking. As the State implementing partner for the USAID SCALE project, our role is to lead activities and engagement initiatives in Adamawa State, specifically focused on the FOI Bill.
Objectives Achieved
In line with the project objectives, the activity was able to successfully;
Raise Awareness of the FOI Act and its potential benefits for citizens and governance in Adamawa State.
Engage key stakeholders, including government officials, civil society organizations, media representatives, and the general public, to actively participate in discussions and actions on FOI domestication.
Mobilize Support and commitment from stakeholders for the passage of the FOI Act in Adamawa State.
Provide a platform for open dialogue and feedback between citizens and government representatives on the FOI Act, in fostering transparency and accountability.
Moving Forward
This successful engagement is a crucial step towards achieving the USAID SCALE project’s objective of FOI domestication in Adamawa State. It fosters collaboration, open dialogue, and commitment among diverse stakeholders to promote transparency and accountability in governance. We anticipate that this event will pave the way for meaningful policy changes and improved citizen-government relations in the state.
At NEHIH, we are dedicated to strengthening the civic space, ensuring citizens’ participation in the governance process, and promoting accountability and transparency. Every conversation and idea shared during the event is a step towards a more transparent and empowered future.