The Kogi State Government has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening partnerships with Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) as part of efforts to promote good governance, accountability and sustainable development across the state.
The Commissioner for Information and Communications, Hon. Kingsley Fanwo, stated this in Lokoja in a message delivered on his behalf by the Director of News and Publications in the Ministry, Dr. Atuluku Samuel, at the 6th Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Kogi NGOs Network (KONGONET).
Fanwo acknowledged the significant contributions of NGOs to societal development, stressing that bridging the gap between government and citizens remained critical to achieving effective governance. He commended the leadership and members of KONGONET for their commitment to strengthening civil society and promoting good governance in Kogi State and Nigeria.
“Non-Governmental Organisations are indispensable partners in any thriving democracy. They provide platforms for citizens to participate in governance, promote accountability and transparency, defend human rights, amplify the voices of vulnerable groups and contribute to community development,” Fanwo said.
According to him, government cannot and should not do everything alone, noting that the expertise, community reach and independent perspectives of NGOs complement government efforts and help ensure that development programmes address the real needs of citizens.
The Commissioner said the role of NGOs was particularly important in promoting access to information, civic education and constructive engagement between government and citizens.
“A vibrant partnership between government and civil society can strengthen public trust and deepen democratic values. The government’s acceptance of the Open Government Partnership (OGP) is yet another testimony that the present administration under Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo is always open to partnerships,” he added.
Fanwo encouraged KONGONET to continue to uphold professionalism, objectivity, accountability and constructive advocacy, urging the network to work with government and other stakeholders to build a Kogi State where citizens are well-informed, actively engaged and confident that their voices matter.
KONGONET Chairperson Commends Government Support
Earlier, the Chairperson of KONGONET, Hamza Aliyu, said the AGM provided an opportunity for members to review the organisation’s activities over the past year, explore new opportunities and strengthen partnerships towards achieving its objectives.
He noted that government and development partners had continued to implement programmes and reforms aimed at improving the lives of citizens. Hamza commended the Commissioner for Information and Communications for his confidence in the operations of KONGONET, saying the support and trust had contributed to improving the organisation’s productivity.
He assured that KONGONET would continue to uphold professionalism and accountability, while appreciating guests and stakeholders for attending the AGM.
Scholar Warns Against Military Intervention, Calls for Broader Political Participation
The keynote speaker, Professor A.M. Peter of the Department of Political Science, Federal University Lokoja, stressed the need to go beyond voting and promote broader political participation as a means of strengthening democracy.
Professor Peter emphasised that sustainable partnerships among government, civil society and citizens were essential to strengthening electoral integrity and democratic governance. He cautioned against military intervention as a solution to governance challenges, urging citizens to collectively work towards improving the democratic process.
“Military intervention cannot be a solution to good governance. Rather, the people should work collectively through partnership and be resolute to make democracy better,” he said.
Goodwill messages were also delivered by representatives of the Kogi State Ministry of Finance, Budget and Economic Planning, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Chairman, and the National Orientation Agency (NOA), among others.
