Centre LSD concludes OGP State and Non-State Actors Training in Delta State

.....Kickstarts State Action Plan Process

By Aviashima Toom, Abuja

The African Centre for Leadership, Strategy & Development (Centre LSD) with support from MacArthur Foundation, on Friday, concluded the training of State and non-state actors in Delta State as part of effort to kickstart the development of the State Action Plan (SAP) and the operationalization of the Open Government Partnership (OGP) in the State.

The 3-day event which started on Wednesday April 13, had in attendance key ministries, agencies and departments including Ministry of Justice, Finance, Auditor Generals Office, Bureau of Public Procurement, Accountant Generals Office, Budget and Economic planning etc. 

The government side was led at the training by the Commissioner, Budget and Economic Planning, Hon Barry Gbe, who double as Government Co-Chair.  Non-state actors present included representatives of non-governmental organizations, Nigeria Bar Association, Religious bodies, Delta State Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (DECIMMA), People Living with Disabilities and other marginalized groups. 

A statement by the Senior Programme Officer of Centre LSD, Mr. Lawal Amodu, who also is the OGP focal person at the Centre, said participants were trained on history, objective, principles, state action plans qualities and size, as well as the place of leadership and strategy in the operationalization of the co-creation principle of the partnership.

Thematic areas agreed for focus in the action plan included; Fiscal transparency, access to information, environmental sustainability and social security. Participating State and non-state actors were separated into thematic areas based on their competences for onward commencement of the State Action Plan (SAP) development process. 

Highlights of the 3-day event was the election of the 9-member steering committee for non-state actors, conducted by Mr. Uchenna Arisukwu (Civil Society Advisor at the OGP Secretariat) and Ms. Ayomide Bolaji (Open Alliance). The election was witnessed by civil society actors across the State and the Centre LSD team from Abuja. Barrister Emmanuel Uti of the NBA emerged as the civil society co-chair, Delta State.