In line with her commitment to creating public awareness on issues of good governance and sustainable development, the founder of EduShine Educational Support Foundation, Dr Safiya Stephanie Musa has accepted the invitation to speak at the interactive session with gubernatorial aspirants in Kogi State.
The event which is scheduled to take place at the university town of Anyigba, Dekina Local Government Area will hold on 8 June 2019.
Organised by the Actionaid Activista in collaboration with the Advocacy Initiative Group, the one day event is expected to serve as a melting point for relevant stakeholders, especially the Kogi State gubernatorial aspirants in the forthcoming governorship election to share their vision and ideas on issues of good governance and sustainable development in the State.
Confirming her participation while speaking with OneKogi Movement, Dr Safiya expressed delight at the invitation, saying sharing ideas is strategic to building consensus on the burning issues of development and good governance in the state.
According to her, Kogi State is currently facing challenges of good governance which has nexus with development.
She further noted that the resolution of the crisis lies with the willingness of the elites to get involved in the ongoing efforts through public awareness creation and information sharing which the event is set to push for.
“Leadership is not a one man show; it’s not a quick fix, but a painstaking effort by collectivity of stakeholders to come together to engender ideas and push for consensus that have inputs from all. I believe that’s the goal of that gathering, and I agreed to be part of it as a stakeholder.
“Accordingly, I will be presenting a paper on the Role of Women in Sustainable Development in Kogi State at the event,” She said.
On her level of participation in the current political dispensation in the State, especially with the coming November 16 gubernatorial election, the social activist noted that the Anyigba event is organised on non partisan basis and her participation has no partisan connotation, but a demonstration of her commitment to the ideals of joint efforts to get it right in the State.
She further stated that as one that is committed to building one united Kogi State where every citizen would have a sense of belonging devoid of ethnic and religious affiliation, and one that is driven by good governance, she would not hesitate to align with any initiative that could promote the realisation of that goal.
While calling on all Kogi sons and daughters at home and in Diaspora not to sit on the fence in the ongoing efforts aimed at engendering unity in the State, Safiya emphasised the need for the political elites to think beyond today and self in their vision for the State.
“It is only through the willingness of the elites to dialogue on issues of unity, good governance and development that the Kogi State of our collective dreams can be realised.
“My presentation in Anyigba will attempt to address some of the centrifugal issues that continue to undermine unity and good governance, this making development impossible. It’s my hope that my presentation would be a modest contribution to the ongoing campaign to get it right in the State,” Safiya added.
It would be recalled that towards the forthcoming November 16 gubernatorial election in Kogi State, various sociocultural and political groups have been organising various public enlightenment programmes aimed at building understanding among the people of the state.
Among those expected to participate in the one day event are aspirants to the governorship position in the state in the November governorship election, members of the political class, students and the public in the event organised under the theme, ‘Good Governance.’
