IBSWLG Chairman, Hon. Akande Commends Speak Out Africa Over LOGIN Project in Council

The Chairman of Ibadan Southwest Local Government, Hon. Kehinde Adeyemi Akande, has applauded Speak Out Africa Initiative for introducing the Local Open Governance Initiative in Nigeria (LOGIN) to the Local Government.

This commendation was given yesterday, Wednesday, May 28, 2025, during the launch of the LOGIN Project which was flagged off with a 2-day capacity building workshop held at the Mini Mapo Hall.

Polity Reporters reports that the initiative (Local Open Governance Initiative in Nigeria) supported by the MacArthur Foundation, is with the aim of empowering third-tier government personnel with digital tools and governance skills to enhance transparency, accountability, and citizen engagement.

Hon. Akande, in his opening remarks, appreciated the organizers and confirmed that the project would greatly improve the council’s operations and support its workforce to ensure more effective service delivery.

The Chairman also pointed out that providing the local government with a functional and official website is a key step toward projecting its numerous achievements to the public and making them accessible to people from different walks of life.

He noted that the world has moved into a digital age where information is mostly accessed online, and this makes it necessary for the council to embrace digital progress.

Hon. Akande praised Speak Out Africa for their commitment to development at the local level and called on other NGOs to learn from them and do the same.

He promised continued collaboration and encouraged the participants to take the training seriously and make good use of the knowledge gained.

In her address, the Programme Development Lead of Speak Out Africa Initiative, Tsavnande Michelle, explained the purpose of the workshop.

Michelle explained that the workshop was designed to equip council staff with digital tools and governance skills that will promote accountability, transparency, and citizen involvement at the grassroots.

Michelle, who said the organization is headquartered in Abuja with operational branches across the length and breadth of West Africa, said the choice of Ibadan Southwest for the project was based on its peaceful environment and the notable developmental strides recorded under the leadership of Hon Kehinde Adeyemi Akande.

She noted that the workshop was timely, especially as the Chairman had just celebrated his four years of impactful leadership in office with various activities held on Monday and Tuesday.

She assured that the organization is committed to helping local governments become more efficient and transparent.

After delivering her (Michelle) remarks, the Chairman took photographs with the LOGIN team, received a vest as a token of appreciation, and left the venue for another official assignment.

The first session of the workshop was led by Mr. Umar Salman Adeyemi, who disclosed governance techniques to improve decision-making and policy execution at the local level.

He stressed the importance of informed leadership and the adoption of practical knowledge that can lead to better governance outcomes.

Mr. Adeyemi explained that good governance begins with leaders who are knowledgeable and who apply best practices in their work.

Mr. Umar advised that before making any plans or launching new projects, it is important for local governments officials and concerned authorities to first find out what the people in their communities genuinely need through proper assessment.

He noted that leaders should not assume what the people want but should engage directly with them, listen to their concerns, and involve them in decisions so that government actions truly reflect the priorities of the people they serve.

He encouraged the participants to adopt creative solutions to improve service delivery in their communities.

The second session was handled by Mr. Tope Egunjobi from the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, who focused on the legal and structural efforts to fight corruption in local government administration.

Mr. Egunjobi recalled how well local governments functioned during his early years and how their efficiency contributed to a better society.

He spoke about the importance of promoting transparency and accountability to eliminate corruption in council activities.

He also pointed out that local governments need strong systems and tools to prevent corruption and deliver quality services, while submitting that without local government autonomy, the local government will perpetually remain ineffective to the detriment of the people at the grassroots.

The third session featured the Executive Director of Speak Out Africa, Mr. Ken Eze, who spoke via Zoom on the link between open governance and good leadership.

He touched on issues like public engagement, access to information, transparency in finances, and the use of technology to improve services.

Mr. Eze, who congratulated the Chairman on his four years of service, said Ibadan Southwest has now joined the growing list of councils embracing the Open Government Partnership in Nigeria.

He concluded by commending the efforts of the council in advancing openness and accountability.

The final session was taken by Aare Zainab Popoola, who explained the structure and responsibilities of local governments using practical and familiar examples.

She talked about the duties expected of local governments and why it is important to understand the way they operate within Nigeria’s political system.

Aare Popoola encouraged the participants to use the knowledge gained from the workshop to improve their departments and the overall governance of the council.

Polity Reporters gathered that all the sessions were interactive as participants and facilitators discussed solutions to the challenges affecting community development.

Polity Reporters reports that the second day of the capacity building session continues today with the official launch of the new council website, the inauguration of the Open Government Partnership steering committee, and the establishment of a Freedom of Information desk within the council.

Present at the event were the Secretary of the Local Government, Hon. Sunday Raphael; the Personal Assistant to the Chairman; Councillors; the Head of Local Government Administration, Mrs. Salawu Oluwatoyosi; the Director of Finance; Director of Budget; the Information Officer; and many other distinguished personalities.