In a bid to bridge the gap between the government and local communities, the Presidency on Friday, launched a new initiative to empower vulnerable citizens through community engagement, with a focus on grassroots development and humanitarian growth.
President Bola Tinubu recently established the Presidential Community Engagement Office, which is primarily set up to cater for the interest of the poor and vulnerable.
During the launch of the South West Initiative For Transformation (SWIFT) Project, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Community Engagement (Southwest), Miss Moremi Ojudu said the office would serve as a “super facilitator” between government agencies and local communities, ensuring that citizens are aware of government policies, programs, and projects that can improve their lives.
According to her, “basically, humanity is behind the face of leadership. President Bola Tinubu is so passionate about growth and development, he’s so passionate about restoring the confidence of Nigerians and ensuring that Nigeria is on the pathway of success and efficient progress”.
The presidential aide explained that the empowerment initiative would focus on five key areas: agriculture, education, enterprise development, health, and primary healthcare restoration.
By engaging with local communities and providing them with the necessary resources and support, the Presidency hopes to restore trust and confidence in government and promote efficient progress.
She said: “Empowering communities is key to the President. Community engagement is the biggest tool the President is using to take back his policies, his projects, and his programs and ensure that these people have that renewed sense of hope”.
The initiative is part of the government’s efforts to renew hope and empower citizens, particularly those in rural and disadvantaged areas.
She said by taking development back to the grassroots, the Presidency hopes to create a sense of ownership and responsibility among citizens, and promote sustainable growth and development.
“When you empower communities, you first of all have to communicate, and that’s the core of community engagement. You have to sensitize them. Many communities are disengaged, they don’t even understand what we’re doing, and government is doing so much for the people”, Ojudu noted.
She said that the Presidential Community Engagement Office will work closely with development partners, implementation partners, and funding partners to achieve this goal, and ensure that citizens are empowered to take control of their lives and communities.
Speaking at the event, Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, applauded the efforts of the Presidential Community Engagement initiative in fostering collaborative solutions for sustainable development across the country.
Idris, who was represented by his Special Assistant, Research and Strategy, Saidu Ahmed commended the leadership role such grassroots engagements play in re-orientating moral and socio-political values.
He said that President Tinubu’s “Renewed Hope Agenda” was carefully crafted to tackle development challenges through an inclusive approach harnessing knowledge, foresight in leadership, and understanding of the nation’s unique political economy.
The minister disclosed that his ministry is currently hosting Ministerial Sectoral Briefings to facilitate democratic exchange of information between cabinet ministers and the populace, redefining engagement on service delivery.
“There is already a geopolitical consensus that President Tinubu has successfully maintained a path where today, we are assured he will deliver this Renewed Hope Agenda to the next generation,” Idris stated.
Highlighting recent multi-stakeholder collaborations like the High-Level Dialogue, the minister said such efforts underscore why cooperation across sectors is crucial for sustainable development goals.
Idris listed numerous policies and programs rolled out in the administration’s first year, including the National Single Window for revenue generation, private sector outsourcing initiatives, loans for SMEs, education financing, agriculture interventions, and infrastructure development funds.
He urged continuous dialogue like these breakfast meetings to enhance development and governance efforts driven by the principles of “initiative, enterprise, hard work and personal responsibility” core to the nation’s character.
Expressing confidence in Tinubu’s political philosophy, Idris stated, “This administration will leave a footprint ensuring we keep our promise of hope, united citizenship, dignity in foreign policy, climate security, sustainable energy and a dignified life for the girl child.”
The minister reiterated his belief that Nigeria will overcome economic challenges and achieve the future it aspires toward through the “Renewed Hope” agenda’s sustainable development consensus.
