A Non-Governmental Organisation, Josemaria Escriva Foundation (JOSEF), has intensified efforts to promote grassroots development and participatory governance in Edo State through a specialised training programme for community members across selected local government areas.
The initiative, implemented under the Enhancing Citizen Engagement in Governance Across Selected Local Government Areas in Edo State (E-CEGALE) Project, aims to encourage accountability, transparency and active citizen participation in governance at the grassroots level.
As part of the project, the foundation also unveiled branded Community Suggestion Boxes in six local government areas, providing residents with a simple platform to communicate their concerns, development priorities and feedback directly to relevant authorities.
The project is funded by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) through the Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room (NCSSR) and the Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre (PLAC).
Speaking during the training and unveiling of the suggestion boxes in Ubiaja, headquarters of Esan South East Local Government Area, the Chief Responsibility Officer of the Josemaria Escriva Foundation and Project Lead of the E-CEGALE Project, Jude Obasanmi, said the initiative was designed to encourage citizens to actively participate in governance at the local level.
Obasanmi explained that through the training of Community Governance Committees and the deployment of suggestion boxes, residents now have a structured channel to share concerns, provide feedback and communicate development needs to local authorities without bureaucratic delays.
He noted that the mechanism would help local governments better understand the priorities of residents and respond more effectively to community needs.
During a separate training session in Benin City, Peter Nwadishi of the Koyenum Immalah Foundation highlighted the importance of community participation in achieving sustainable development.
According to him, initiatives that empower citizens to share their views and contribute ideas to governance help ensure that development policies reflect the real needs and aspirations of the people.
Similarly, at another E-CEGALE training session for Community Governance Committee members in Auchi in Edo North, the Lead of the Initiative for Gender Equality and Advancement (IGEA), Annestina Umoru, stressed that inclusive citizen engagement was essential for strengthening democratic governance.
She said empowering citizens to speak up helps ensure that leadership remains accountable, noting that the Community Suggestion Boxes provide a secure platform for women, youths and other marginalised groups to communicate directly with government authorities.
According to her, prioritising the voices of often unheard groups would make development planning more responsive to the real needs of communities, particularly during the preparation of local government budgets.
To enhance the effectiveness of the feedback system, the project organised intensive training for 60 Community Governance Committee members drawn from participating local government areas.
Ten representatives were selected from each of the six councils involved in the project — Oredo Local Government Area, Ikpoba-Okha Local Government Area, Esan West Local Government Area, Esan South East Local Government Area, Etsako West Local Government Area and Owan West Local Government Area.
The training sessions brought together persons with disabilities, community members and representatives of the respective local government councils, equipping them with the skills needed to monitor community feedback and properly document citizens’ concerns.
Through the initiative, the project aims to ensure that the voices of all citizens, particularly those from marginalised groups, are captured and effectively communicated to decision-makers for responsive governance at the grassroots level.
