Odimmegwa Johnpeter/Abuja
The Honourable Minister, Federal Ministry of Youth Development, Comrade Ayodele Olawande, has formally handed over the baton as State Actors Co-Chair of the Nigeria Open Government Partnership (OGP) National Steering Committee, describing the occasion as one filled with gratitude, reflection, and renewed optimism for the future of open governance in Nigeria. This was contained in a statement signed by Omolara Esan, Director, Information and Public Relations, Federal Ministry of Youth Development.
Speaking at the 22nd National Steering Committee Meeting held in Abuja, the Minister expressed heartfelt appreciation to all stakeholders who contributed to the journey.
“I am deeply grateful for the collective efforts of government institutions, civil society organisations, the private sector, academia, development partners, and ordinary citizens who worked together to strengthen open governance in our country,” he said.
Reflecting on the progress made since 2024, Minister Olawande highlighted the wide-ranging consultations conducted across Nigeria and beyond, which gave Nigerians from all backgrounds a real voice in shaping governance processes. He noted that the successful implementation of National Action Plan III (NAP III) delivered tangible results in the areas of accountability, access to information, and citizen participation.
“Through NAP III, we made meaningful strides in promoting transparency, accountability, and citizen engagement while also amplifying Nigeria’s voice on the global OGP stage,” he added.
The Minister also formally unveiled National Action Plan IV (NAP IV), a bold, forward-looking framework shaped largely by the voices and aspirations of young Nigerians.
The new plan contains twelve commitments across six key thematic areas, including digital governance, justice and human rights, anti-corruption, civic space, and climate action.
“NAP IV truly reflects the dreams of a generation that wants greater transparency, accountability, and trust in government,” he said. “However, its success will depend entirely on our collective commitment to effective implementation.”
Comrade Olawande commended his co-chair, Obialunanma Nnaobi-Ayodele, for her strong leadership and dedication in representing non-state actors. He also thanked the OGP Secretariat and all members of the 3rd National Steering Committee for their unwavering support and contributions.
In his inaugural remarks, the new State Actors Co-Chair and Honourable Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Sen. Abubakar Atiku Bagudu expressed gratitude for the opportunity to serve and pledged to build on the solid foundation already laid.
He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to deepening collaboration between state and non-state actors while ensuring that OGP commitments led to real improvements in governance and service delivery for ordinary Nigerians.
Sen. Bagudu particularly stressed the need to sustain momentum in fiscal transparency, anti-corruption, access to information, and public service delivery.
The incoming Non-State Actors Co-Chair, Olusoji Apampa, acknowledged the measurable progress recorded in financial transparency, open contracting, access to information, and open budgeting.
“These are not small achievements,” he noted. “They show that openness is a practical tool that can deliver real benefits to citizens.”
Apampa pledged to work closely with the new leadership to sustain reforms and strengthen collaboration for the benefit of all Nigerians.
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