Women in Kwara State have been encouraged to become more involved in governance at the local government level to strengthen accountability and transparency at the grassroots level.
Speaking at the official launch of the campaign, titled My Role, My Voice, My Local Government, members of a women’s advocacy group in the state said weak participation, limited transparency and minimal accountability have widened the gap between local authorities and the people.
The executive director of The Wura Hope Women Initiative, Yusuf Rasheed, who lamented “a continuing and worrying disconnect between the governed and the government in many communities,” said that “local governments often feel distant, underperforming or underutilized, leaving communities unserved and citizens unheard.”
“Local governments are designed to be the level of government closest to the people. They shape the daily experiences of women and children, farmers and merchants, senior citizens and young people. Yet, in many communities, we continue to see a worrying disconnect. Local governments often feel distant, underperforming or underutilized, leaving communities underserved and citizens unheard,” she said.
The people, who said two programmes, called Strengthening Women’s Participation in Local Governance (SWiLG) and Women’s Accountability Network (WAN) were established in response to the challenge, added that the projects were designed to amplify women’s voices and strengthen grassroots accountability where it matters most.
Yusuf, who said the programs were designed to strengthen cooperation between the people and the government, added that they aim to promote trust in the government and provide platforms for political actors to disseminate government activities among the people.
“Through the WAN, we are fostering a community-driven accountability ecosystem, where women and community members monitor service delivery, demand transparency, and actively engage with local officials as partners in development, not passive observers.
“We believe that when citizens are held accountable, when women lead boldly, when communities speak with one voice, and when public officials commit to openness and collaboration, governance becomes more transparent, more inclusive and more effective,” she said.
Another member of the group, Afolabi Waliulah, also said that grassroots women are receiving the leadership skills, civic knowledge and confidence needed to participate meaningfully in local governance.
She said women in the state’s 16 local government areas are being trained in budgeting and execution of government projects, as well as in monitoring government activities, adding that they would be sent as researchers in each of the local government areas to identify areas of need in each community.
“We are opening more doors for women to sit at the decision-making tables where budgets are designed, priorities are debated and community development is shaped,” she said.