The Acting State Director, National Orientation Agency (NOA), Anambra State directorate Awka, Sir Joseph Uchendu, has underscored the importance Open Government Partnership among nations as a tool to enhance human capital development.
The NOA Acting Director, Sir Uchendu ,who was speaking at a One Day Step Down Training Workshop organized for the Directorate Headquarter Staff and the liaison officers of the Agency in Anambra State, reiterated that the importance of open government partnership among nations cannot be over emphasized in human and national development.
Sir Uchendu, who was speaking on the topic, “Open Government Partnership: Frequently Asking Questions, maintained that the Open Government Partnership is all about global coalition of reformers drawn from different member nations and civil society organizations to enthrone transparency, accountability and all inclusiveness in government activities.
Sir Uchendu, who noted that the major workshop had been organized for top government officers in Anambra State and the leaders of Civil Society Organizations in the Statr by Africa Center for Leadership Development with the Anambra State Commissioner for Economic Planing and Budget Mrs Ukamaka Nnake as the Chairperson, stressed that the OGP was approved by Nigerian government with a view to enhancing citizens participation in government programs.
According to him, the core principles of the OGP include transparency, accountability, citizens participation, technology and innovation, adding that the involvement of the Freedom Information Act (FOIA)in the process was to champion the people’s interests in government businesses among the benefiting nations.
He emphasized that NOA is the leading partner in the National Action Planning 2 (NAPII) aspect of the OGP as it concerns the citizens engagement and participation, pointing out that the OGP was designed to address the issue of non inclusivity of the people in government Programmes and activities. The Desk Officer in charge of the FOIA and the OGP progammmes in NOA, Anambra State, Mr. Tagbo Igboka, later took the participants on what he described as the Compass Game, aspect of the program which according to him, hinges on how to decipher the strengths and weaknesses of individuals in society in order to maximize their potentialities .
