Stallion Times Media Services Limited, publisher of the Stallion online newspaper, has organized a roundtable meeting leading to the establishment of a Permanent Dialogue Mechanism (PDM) Committee by the Kogi Non-Governmental Organisations Network (KONGONET). This coalition of civil society organizations champions participatory democracy and good governance in Kogi State.
The PDM’s Interim Committee comprises Hamza Aliyu as Chairman, Eunice Abimbola Agbogun as Secretary, and members Abaniwo Nathaniel, Daniel Arome, Ikechukwu Mpama, Joseph Amedu, and Reuben Joshua. Its mission is to promote good governance by strengthening institutions to provide efficient, inclusive, and citizen-responsive services that are transparent and accountable.
Mr. Ismaila Isah, the Special Adviser on Media to the Kogi State Governor, conveyed in his goodwill message that the event aimed to foster accountability in governance through robust civic space engagement. He emphasized that media literacy and citizens’ participation in governance not only promote open governance but also build trust between the people and those elected or appointed to serve.
Mr. Isah stated, “In a time when trust deficits fueled by aggressive misinformation and disinformation threaten democracy, organizations like Stallion Times are immensely beneficial by consistently creating platforms for connecting the government with civil society.”
Mr. Adegbola T. Isaiah, Permanent Secretary at the Kogi State Ministry of Information and Communication, inaugurated the committee. He noted that Kogi State has joined the Open Government Partnership (OGP) initiative, highlighting the state’s commitment to transparency, accountability, and participatory governance.
Mr. Isaiah remarked, “This will increase openness and transparency in managing resources in the state, which has witnessed increased investment and resource mobilization. KONGONET will promote citizens’ engagement with the government by creating awareness of their role in governance.”
He encouraged citizens and civil society organizations to engage consistently and strategically with the Government and the private sector for effective governance in the state. He also noted that Governor Ododo of Kogi State recently signed seven bills into law, emphasizing the transparency, inclusiveness, and diligence of the process, which involved public hearings with various stakeholders.
He urged all stakeholders to support the OGP initiative of the state government and provide timely and constructive feedback to improve policies and programs, advancing good governance for the socioeconomic development of the state. He thanked Stallion Times for prioritizing Kogi State in promoting openness, transparency, and inclusion in governance.
The roundtable discussion was part of Stallion Times’ three-year participatory governance and media literacy project, “Get Involved, Dialogue and Improve (G-DRIP),” in Kano and Kogi states. This initiative is under the Collaborative Media Engagement for Development, Inclusion, and Accountability (CMEDIA) Project, which supports media independence, improved transparency, accountability, and good governance at state and local government levels. The project, funded by the MacArthur Foundation and implemented with support from the Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism (WSCIJ), aims to raise public awareness about the need for accountability and amplify marginalized voices.
