The University of Lagos (UNILAG) and DevReporting have announced a partnership to promote development journalism and accountability in local governance. The partnership will feature a three-in-one event, including the premiere of an investigative documentary, the launch of a foundation, and a fundraising drive. The event is scheduled to take place on October 29 at UNILAG, Akoka. The documentary, titled "LG Billions in the Dark," examines local government administration in Osun State and explores broader challenges in public finance management, service delivery, and civic accountability.
The documentary focuses on local government administration in Osun State, South-west Nigeria, and draws attention to challenges affecting local governance across the country. According to Christiana Alabi-Akande, Managing Editor of DevReporting, the documentary aims to stimulate a national conversation on local governance and encourage citizens and institutions to demand greater accountability. The documentary is being produced in partnership with the Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID) through its Local Media Sustainability Fund (LMSF), with support from the Royal Norwegian Embassy.
The event will also witness the formal launch of the Development Reporting Africa Foundation (DRAF) and a strategic fundraising campaign. Alabi-Akande thanked the university for supporting the initiative, describing the partnership as an opportunity to strengthen collaboration between academic institutions and the wider society. The partnership aims to enhance gown and town collaborations, according to Alabi-Akande.
The Vice-Chancellor of UNILAG, Prof. Folasade Ogunsola, commended DevReporting for its focus on local governance and accountability. The university was chosen as the flagship venue because local governments often receive less public scrutiny than the federal and state governments, despite being the tier of government closest to citizens.
Samson Ademola, Associate Editor of DevReporting, explained that engaging students and members of the academic community would help deepen understanding of local governance and encourage greater participation in discussions around transparency and accountability. Empirical evidence suggests that local governments do not receive as much attention as federal and state governments, despite being closest to citizens.
Many citizens remain unaware of local governance activities, and bringing students together will allow them to understand these issues, contribute to the conversation, and advocate for transparency. The partnership between UNILAG and DevReporting aims to promote development journalism and accountability in local governance, and the three-in-one event is expected to make a significant impact.
The event is expected to stimulate a broader national conversation about the state of local governance and the need for citizens and institutions to demand accountability. The partnership between UNILAG and DevReporting is a significant step towards promoting transparency and accountability in local governance, and it is expected to have a lasting impact on the country's democratic process.
Key points
- The partnership aims to promote development journalism and accountability in local governance.
- The documentary "LG Billions in the Dark" examines local government administration in Osun State and explores broader challenges in public finance management, service delivery, and civic accountability.
- The event will feature the premiere of the documentary, the launch of the Development Reporting Africa Foundation (DRAF), and a strategic fundraising campaign.
