The Minister of Youth Development, Comrade Ayodele Olawande, Monday, formally handed over the baton as State Actors Co-Chair of the Nigeria Open Government Partnership (OGP) National Steering Committee.
He described the occasion as one filled with gratitude, reflection and renewed optimism for the future of open governance in Nigeria.
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, the minister 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.
A press statement signed by the director of Information and Public Relations of the ministry, Omolara Esen, and made available to Blueprint quoted the minister as saying that 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.”
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 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.