• Chairman seeks stronger citizen support, continuous dialogue
By Daniel Olushola Michael
The Ado-Odo/Ota Local Government Council of Ogun State has intensified engagement with youths, community leaders and other stakeholders as part of efforts to promote grassroots development, accountability and inclusive governance.
The council, led by its Chairman, Hon. Lawal Adewale Wasiu, FCA, in partnership with the African Foundation for Environment and Development (AFED), organised a stakeholders’ town hall meeting on Saturday, August 29, 2026, at the council hall.
The meeting attracted community leaders, youths and residents from the 16 wards of the local government, with participants deliberating on community development, citizen participation and the need for stronger collaboration between the people and government.
Speaking at the event, Wasiu said his administration remained committed to fulfilling the Citizens’ Charter and delivering projects and programmes that would directly impact residents.
He stressed that regular engagement with the people was necessary to keep the council leadership accountable and ensure that government policies and projects reflected the needs of communities.
The chairman urged residents and stakeholders to sustain their support for the administration, noting that government alone could not drive meaningful development without active participation from the citizenry.
According to him, Ado-Odo/Ota, one of the major commercial hubs in Ogun State, requires a collective effort from government, traditional and community leaders, youths and residents to unlock its full development potential.
He said: “We cannot achieve meaningful development without the support and contributions of our people. This is why continuous engagement with our stakeholders is important. We want our people to be part of the process and to hold us accountable.”
Also speaking, AFED Executive Director, Adesola Afariogun, disclosed that the organisation in its proactive attributes had recently concluded a 49-member community leadership training programme aimed at strengthening citizens’ participation and leadership engagement.
Afariogun said the training was designed to promote accountability and equip community representatives with the knowledge and tools needed to participate effectively in matters affecting their communities.
He said the initiative would also strengthen collaboration between the communities and the local government administration and create a better understanding of development priorities at the grassroots.
The town hall meeting subsequently provided a platform for direct interaction between citizens and the council leadership, with participants raising issues, providing feedback and discussing development needs across the 16 wards.
The council also unveiled several people-oriented projects and initiatives targeted at communities across the local government. Further promises better facilities inclusion in the future projects in the council.
Participants described the engagement as a positive step towards deepening grassroots participation, accountability and responsive governance, while calling for its regular continuation.
The organisers said sustained dialogue between government and citizens remained critical to building trust, identifying community needs and ensuring that development programmes have meaningful impact at the grassroots.
No comments:
Post a Comment