Stallion Times, a media outlet based in Kano State, conducted a one-day capacity-building workshop in Kano State, for participants drawn from civil society organisations, faith-based groups, government representatives, and the media to enable them champion the establishment of a Permanent Dialogue Mechanism for the success of the Open Government Partnership (OGP) programme in the state.
Dr. Abdulsalam Muhammad Kani an official of OGP, and also the Executive Director of Fiscal Discipline and Development Advocacy Center (FIDAC) presented a paper on the structure of engagement titled “Permanent Dialogue Mechanism.” During his presentation, he emphasized on the need to have a unique and sustainable structure that will give citizens and government opportunities to share ideas on issues that will help to establish relevant projects in the communities as well as enhancing governance.
Similarly, the representative of the Center of Democratic Research Mambayya House, Mr. Mustafa Isiyaku, and the civil society Co-Chair of Open Government Partnership (OGP), Mr. Abdulrazak Sani Alkali both stressed the importance of creating opportunities for people to contribute towards good governance which is essential for promoting accountability and ensuring good governance.
Mr. Mubarak Isah and Mr. Isiyaku Ahmed, Editor-in-Chief of Stallion Times both underscored the need for people and government to use digital mechanisms for discussion and sharing of ideas on community-based projects.
The participants who participated in the event decried challenges hindering the success of OGP in the state.
The Get Involved Dialogue and Improve Project (GDIRP) on Permanent Dialogue Mechanism was carried out under the Collaborative Media Engagement for Development, Inclusion and Accountability (CMEDIA) Project supported by the McArthur Foundation through the Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism (WSCIJ).
