The Open Government Partnership (OGP) has officially announced Anambra East LGA as the first in Nigeria to join it as a member.
According to Mr. Carfi Natalia, a member of the OGP Steering Committee, Anambra East is the first LG to have met the criteria.
Natalia who is the Local Selection Committee Chairman, pointed out that OGP provides a space for open government leaders to form coalitions that drive change in their contexts, to learn from each other, and to collaborate with peers from around the world to deliver better policies for citizens.
As of 2024, members of OGP Local have co-created more than 120 action plans and committed to implementing more than 475 open government initiatives. Natalia said.
“This shows the Partnership’s effort to broaden the reach and scope of OGP Local in line with OGP’s 2023-2028 strategy to mainstream open government at all levels and branches of government.”
” Selected from 138 applications across the globe, Anambra East LGA is joining a network of leaders who work with citizens and civil society organizations to implement action plans, tailored to their local contexts, to improve their communities using open government approaches.
” This partnership plugs Anambra East Local Government to a global network of 75 Nations and 140 Local Governments across the world opening it up to collaborations and possible funding opportunities from across the world.” He concluded
The Transition Chairman of Anambra East LGA, Hon. Dr Anselm Chukwudi Anselm Onuorah while reacting to the development, pointed out thusly;
” It is important to note that Anambra East is the only LGA in Nigeria and part of the under 20 Local governments across Africa admitted to join this global partnership after a careful post-application selection.
“We are happy to join the Open Government Partnership. This is a testament to the independence of Local Government authorities enabled by Mr Governor, Prof Charles Chukwuma Soludo’s leadership in our dear state.
“It shows that the 3rd tier of government functions optimally as it is supposed and that we the Chairmen of LGAs are free to take initiatives that help foster growth and development in our respective LGAs.
” I thank, also, our Partnerships and Strategy Office and our civil society partners – Centre for Inclusive Social Development – for their tireless efforts in achieving this milestone” Onuorah submitted
Chief Executive Officer of the Open Government Partnership Mr. Sanjay Pradhan said the expansion underscores governments’ collective commitment to better serve their citizens’ needs
“We are delighted to welcome no less than 55 brand new local jurisdictions to the growing network of reformers that OGP has built since it was founded in 2011,”
“ By embracing open government approaches, Anambra East local government is now uniquely positioned to respond effectively to citizen demands due to their proximity to communities”, he said.
Angel Network News (ANN) reports that OGP is an international partnership that brings together government and civil society organizations to create ambitious reforms to open up governments and better respond to citizens’ needs.
