A civil society group, Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD), has concluded a two-day workshop for journalists and civil society groups in Lagos.
The event was a capacity building training for social groups and networks under the Strengthening Citizens Resistance Against Prevalence of Corruption (SCRAP-C).
Held with support from UKAid and ActionAid Nigeria, the event provided a good training for journalists and civil society groups.
Facilitator at the event, Mrs. Dede Kadiri, a data consultant for DataFactory; a social group that makes sense of data and useful for planning, action and development via comprehensive data analysis, infograph, strategic report writing, urged journalists and the civil society to engage the government with verifiable proofs.
The workshop which centred so much on Social Audit as a tool of engagement was an eye opening for the participants on methods to engage the government.
According to Kadiri, “Nigeria is evolving and voice is needed to express what Nigerians really need. Social Audit is one of the many tools. It only takes us in that direction social audit not only teach people to speak up, it also teach people to speak up with evidence and now we are in an era where evidence is so important,” Kadiri said.
She however enjoined journalists who are the voices of the people to understand the issues.
“People now talk about budget and procurement and this is a good opportunity for journalists to catch up with the train and make a difference. Journalists are the voices of Nigerians to be able to project the real needs much more clearly and engage in storytelling.”
On the activity of civil society groups in fighting alongside the masses, Kadiri, who noted the hard work of the civil society right from the dark days of military dictatorship said, “The civil society has been working hard since the military era just like the journalists to see a healthy combination to see the civil society and the media in the same direction.“
She also enjoined the duo of civil society and the media to team up properly to effect the needed change in the society by taking government to task through verifiable data.
“Civil society have an opportunity to fine- tune so that together with journalists we can make a better impact towards development. And especially on the part of the communities, the people are at the bottom of the food chain when it comes to developmental projects,” she said.
Read also: Lagos 2019: Ambode, others walk the blade edges
Feeling the pulse of the downtrodden who are always at the receiving end of corruption, Kadiri said the collaboration of the media and civil society would benefit the communities.
“Especially on behalf of the various communities who are at the bottom of the food chain when it comes to the issues of developmental projects, if the communities work together with the civil societies and the journalists you would see what would happen.he added.
“If we recognise that we come from a militarized era Nigerians have not really been accustomed with speaking up even our upbringing stops you from speaking to people you feel are better than you assume a position that affects everyone, it affects the private and public sectors it affects the communities that is why it is good to help people learn that they can speak up for to boost their confidence, you have to be confidence to speak up at every point,” she said.
