NGO trains Oyo LG officials on transparency, citizen engagement amid autonomy reforms

The Brain Builders Youth Development Initiative (BBYDI), a non-government organisation, has trained local government officials in Oyo state on transparency and citizen engagement.

The capacity development workshop, with support from the Nigerian Youth Futures Fund (NYFF), was held at the Local Government Staff Training School in Ibadan, Oyo state capital, on Monday.

In a statement, BBYDI said the programme is part of its LocalGov2.0 initiative, which aims to promote transparent, inclusive, and digitally driven local governance across Nigeria’s south-west region.

The NGO said the workshop comes after the supreme court ruled in favour of financial autonomy for Nigeria’s 774 local government councils.

BBYDI said its goal is to ensure that councils have the capacity to manage autonomy effectively and accountably.

“Autonomy without capacity only produces chaos,” said Nurah Jimoh-Sanni, executive director of BBYDI. “We are here to build that capacity, grounded in transparency, civic inclusion, and results.”

The day-long event featured technical sessions on governance mandates, citizen participation, civic technology, and local policy alignment.

Idowu Johnson, associate professor of political science at the University of Ibadan, led a session on constitutional responsibilities of local governments, urging officials to shift from routine administration to community-focused development.

Kolawole Oyerinde, a retired director with the Oyo State Local Government Service Commission, addressed the need for inclusive planning and structured citizen feedback.

Risikat Ayodele Busari, head of local government administration in Akinyele LGA, facilitated a session on aligning mandates with measurable community outcomes.

In another session, Ademuyiwa Adeyemi David, south-west regional coordinator at Tracka, introduced participants to civic tech platforms like Budeshi and Tracka.ng, which allow communities to monitor public spending and report uncompleted projects.

“The data exists. The problem is access,” David said. “These tools help citizens follow the money and demand results.”

The event also marked the unveiling of two major governance publications: A factsheet and issue brief titled “Strengthening Local Governance in Southwestern Nigeria,” which examines challenges and proposes policy recommendations; A Needs Assessment Report based on research conducted across 49 LGAs in Oyo and Ekiti states. The report identifies systemic gaps in transparency, planning, and citizen engagement. It includes a foreword by Olajide Akanji, a professor at the University of Ibadan.

BBYDI also introduced civic infographics and an in-progress civic technology platform that will allow residents to track local projects, follow campaign promises, and submit real-time feedback.

The LocalGov2.0 initiative is currently being piloted in six LGAs in Oyo state, with plans to expand to other parts of the region. In addition to trainings, the programme includes townhall meetings, civic education forums, and live radio programmes to promote community dialogue on governance.