From: Femi Mustapha in Kaduna
Kaduna State has concluded its 2026 Open Gov Week celebrations with a call to deepen institutional reforms and maintain citizen-led governance, as officials and civil society partners reflected on 15 years of the Open Government Partnership.
The week-long event, held from May 18 to May 22, gathered government officials, civil society groups, development partners, youth leaders, and citizens to review progress and plan the next chapter of open governance in the state.
At the closing session, Commissioner for Planning and Budget, Hon. Mukhtar Ahmed Monrovia, stated that the event demonstrated the tangible impact of transparency, accountability, and inclusion on Kaduna’s development. He emphasized that these values are now at the heart of how the state designs and provides public services.
“Over the past week, Kaduna has truly shown the world the practical, real-world effects of open governance,” Ahmed said.
“We have demonstrated that transparency, accountability, and inclusion are not just abstract ideas—they are the core principles driving our state forward.”
He cited key outcomes from the discussions, including efforts to improve health and education service delivery, empower youth leaders in social protection reforms, and introduce young people to the CoST Initiative and the state’s Open Contracting portal.
The commissioner also mentioned that the week advanced policy discussions on climate-resilient water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) systems and explored the link between climate change, gender, and care work. He added that policy clinic dialogues on open contracting, along with radio programs and virtual campaigns, helped amplify grassroots voices and boost accountability.
Ahmed credited the progress to strong collaboration between the state government and civil society organizations, noting that CSOs worked closely with the government to turn commitments into visible improvements in people’s lives.
“As Commissioner of Planning and Budget, I want to commend the energy, dedication, and collaborative spirit of our civil society allies and government officials,” he said.
“Your shared commitment ensures that the future of open government in Kaduna State stays promising.”
Reflecting on the 15th anniversary of the Open Government Partnership, he called it a milestone and a fresh call to action. He urged the OGP community to sustain momentum and uphold the standard for local governance in Nigeria and beyond.
“Fifteen years of the Open Government Partnership is more than just a historic milestone—it is a renewed call to action,” Ahmed stated.
“It challenges us to keep building public trust, deepen reforms, and make sure governance remains open, transparent, and citizen-focused.”
He wrapped up by thanking all partners and participants for their efforts and congratulating the OGP Kaduna community on a successful week of dialogue and action.
