By Stella Kabruk
Kaduna – A non-governmental organisation (NGO), ActionAid Nigeria, on Wednesday in Kaduna, began a three-day training aimed at forming an inclusive forum for accountable society.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the training was held in collaboration with a Kaduna-based NGO, Hope for the Village Child, and the Kaduna State government.
The training had 50 participants, drawn from two local government areas of the state, who were expected to form a forum that would advocate the rights of the poor and the excluded in the community.
NAN also reports that the participants included education secretaries, representatives of SUBEB, SMEDAN, BOA, NDE and civil society organisations (CSOs).
Sani Ibrahim, the Manager, Partnership and Local Rights Programme of ActionAid Nigeria, said that the training was also aimed at increasing effectiveness, accountability and transparency at both local and state levels.
“It will create opportunity for sharing and learning good practices in participatory governance, increase citizens participation in governance process and enhance partnership and collaboration between government and CSOs.
According to him, inclusion forum for accountable society is a process that links inequality, poverty, governance and societal practices and facilitates required change based on collective action.
“It consists of three pillars, namely evidence building, mobilising and engaging responses from duty bearers,” he said.
Ibrahim explained that ActionAid was a global movement of people working together to further human rights for all and defeat poverty.
“We prioritise works with the poor and the excluded; we also promote values and commitment in civil society, institutions and governments, with the aim of achieving structural changes as well as eradicating injustices and poverty in the world.
“ActionAid Nigeria is a member of ActionAid global federation. We maintain a strong relationship of interdependence and mutual accountability within the international federation, while ensuring a strong balance between self-rule and shared-rule,” he said.
