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The Open Government Partnership (OGP) has officially embraced Anambra East Local Government Area as its inaugural member from Nigeria.
This statement was delivered by Mr. Sanjay Pradhan, the Chief Executive Officer of the Open Government Partnership, during a session held in Washington DC, USA, on Monday.
Handpicked from a total of 138 submissions spanning the globe, Anambra East Local Government Area is poised to join a network of leaders collaborating with citizens and civil society organizations.
Their collective goal: to execute tailored action plans that leverage open government methodologies, all in an effort to uplift their communities.
Being part of this partnership connects Anambra East Local Government Area to a worldwide network encompassing 75 nations and 140 local governments. This link provides opportunities for collaborations and potential funding from various corners of the globe.
Anambra East distinguishes itself as the solitary local government area in Nigeria and one of fewer than 20 across Africa to be accepted into this global partnership. The meticulous post-application selection process guaranteed that only a select few met the stringent criteria for admission.
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According to the Transition Committee Chairman of Anambra East Local Government Area, Dr. Anselm Onuorah, it is his vision to make Anambra East more Transparent, accountable and Participatory.
“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. Chukwuma Soludo’s leadership in our dear state. It shows that the third tier of government functions optimally as it is supposed and we, the Chairmen of LGAs, are free to take initiatives that will 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 said.
During the announcement, the Chief Executive Officer of the Open Government Partnership, Sanjay Pradhan, expressed delight in welcoming no less than fifty-five brand new local jurisdictions to the growing network of reformers that OGP has built since it was founded in 2011, noting that the expansion underscores governments’ collective commitment to serve citizens’ needs better.
He says that 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.
The Open Government Partnership offers a venue for leaders in open government to come together, build partnerships to enact change within their specific environments, share knowledge, and collaborate with counterparts from various parts of the world, all aimed at creating policies that benefit citizens.
By 2024, OGP Local members have come together to develop over 120 action plans and have made commitments to implement over 475 initiatives, all geared towards advancing the principles of open government.
