The success of the Students-Open Gov Fellowship serves as a testament to the transformative power of youth-led initiatives, reinforcing a powerful lesson: when young people lead, governments listen. Photo Credit: Julian Adetinuyo
The DEAN Initiative, a community-based organization committed to fostering grassroots development, has spotlighted the achievements of its flagship program, the Students-Open Gov Fellowship.
At a news conference themed “Bridging the Gap: Youth Advocacy for Local Government Transparency in Nigeria,” the organization highlighted the pivotal role of budget transparency in promoting accountability and good governance at the local level.
Speaking at the event, DEAN Initiative’s Executive Director, Mr. Semiye Michael, underscored the importance of access to local government budgets in empowering citizens to monitor public spending. “Budget transparency is crucial for holding leaders accountable and fostering trust in governance,” Michael remarked.
However, he noted the dismal state of digital transparency among Nigeria’s 774 Local Government Areas (LGAs), with fewer than 10 maintaining active websites or social media platforms for public engagement.
Mr Michael also described the recent Supreme Court ruling granting financial autonomy to LGAs as a mixed blessing. While it creates opportunities for development, he warned that the absence of effective oversight mechanisms could lead to mismanagement of public funds.
Students-Open Gov Fellowship
Mr Michael revealed that the Students-Open Gov Fellowship, launched in May 2024, equips students from the University of Abuja with the skills and tools needed to advocate for open governance. Using the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act, the fellows engaged six Area Councils within the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), overcoming entrenched bureaucratic challenges.
“As a result of their efforts, budget documents were obtained from four councils—Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), Kuje, Kwali, and Gwagwalada—marking a historic step toward budget accessibility. “These young advocates have achieved what seemed impossible: bringing local government budgets into the public domain.”
Forging Strategic Partnerships for Sustainable Impact
The DEAN Initiative acknowledged the invaluable support of organizations such as the Centre LSD, MacArthur Foundation, BudgIT, CODE, OGP Global, and OGP Local.
Mr Michael emphasized that collaboration among stakeholders remains key to sustaining the momentum for open governance. “Transparency strengthens reputations and fosters international cooperation,”
Charting the Path Forward
In his closing remarks, Michael outlined the DEAN Initiative’s vision for scaling the fellowship’s impact in 2025 and beyond. “Transparency is the foundation of trust, and trust is the cornerstone of sustainable progress,” he said. “By building on this momentum, we can create a governance system that is truly open and inclusive.”
By: Julian Adetinuyo
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