By Obansa Ibrahim, Lokoja
Stakeholders drawn from the Civil society organizations, religious leaders, Government officials, Kogi state OGP members and Journalists were at the weekend, trained on Capacity Building on Permanent Dialogue Mechanism by Stallion Times Media Services.
The one-day workshop tagged: “Get Involved, Dialogue and Improved Project (GDRIP) is funded by MacArthur Foundation
Isiyaku Ahmed, Project Coordinator of the Stallion Times Media Services, in his welcome address, said that the main objectives of the training is to build capacity of stakeholders on strategies for effective engagement with government and private sector, to establish a permanent dialogue mechanism for participatory governance as well as to key permanent Dialogue Mechanism strategy into the Open Government Partnership (OGP) Thematic Areas.
Isiyaku admonished participants at the workshop to make judicious use of the rare opportunity to improve themselves in the practice of journalism business.
He also advocated for active involvement of citizens in the process of governance to boost all embracing government business across the country.
Ambassador Idris Ozovehe Muraina, the Co-Chair of Open Government Partnership (OGP) (Non- State Actor), Kogi state, commended Stallion Times Media Services MacArthur Foundation for its untiring efforts to foster transparency, accountability, and citizen participation in governance.
According to him “This capacity building session marks a significant milestone in our collective journey towards building open, inclusive, and responsive governance system that truly serve the needs and aspirations of our citizens.
“The establishment of a robust Permanent Dialogue Mechanism is crucial in ensuring that the voices of all stakeholders, including civil society organizations, government agencies, and citizens, are heard and integrated into the decision-making processes of the state.
“I want to specifically commend the Stallion Times team for their unwavering dedication to advancing the principles of open government and for their commitment to driving positive change across their project sites in Nigeria.
“Your tireless efforts and innovative approaches serve as a beacon of hope and inspiration for all of us working towards a more transparent and accountable world.
“As we come together to share knowledge, exchange best practices, and build capacity in implementing the Permanent Dialogue Mechanism, I urge us to seize this opportunity to collaborate, learn from one another, and forge strong partnerships that will strengthen the foundation of open government in Kogi State and beyond.
“Remember that the work you do today as Stallion Times, will have a lasting impact on the lives of millions of people across your project sites.
“By promoting transparency, fostering dialogue, and engaging citizens in the governance process, you are helping to build a more inclusive and equitable society for future generations.
“I have full confidence in your abilities to drive positive change and make a meaningful difference here in Kogi State and together, we can create a world where government is truly of the people, by the people, and for the people”
Lectures were present on definition and Characteristics of an effective coalition by Isiyaku Ahmed, civil society and the OGP in Nigeria, practice and prospects and Advocacy- concepts, principles, techniques, tools and skills by Uchenna Arisukwu.