The Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI), and the BBC Media Action have agreed to work together to support communication activities targeted at reversing the resource curse through effective dissemination of NEITI industry audit reports and other accountability issues in the extractive sector.
The partnership will leverage the two organisations’ respective strengths across natural resource governance; capacity building for the media and community mobilisation and communication that will influence decision makers and enhance the participation of citizens in decision making processes.
Waziri Adio, the executive secretary of NEITI on a visit to the BBC Media Action, stressed the need for scaling up its public education, enlightenment and social mobilisation especially at the grassroots level in the dissemination of its industry audit reports findings, a statement from Obiageli Onuorah, acting director of communications, NEITI said.
According to the statement, Adio regretted that natural resources for now were not benefitting the people as they should, noting that citizens need to be empowered with information about the issues in natural resource governance to enable them effectively demand accountability.
“We want to deepen our engagement with the people and the media. When you dramatise the issues contained in the NEITI Audit reports to educate the citizens of their role, the impact will be huge. BBC Media Action has programmes such as the ‘Story Story’ that are very effective and we want to key into them to create that much needed awareness that will influence high level policy making and act as a catalyst for change. This is the essence of the EITI,” Adio noted.
Responding, Seamus Gallagher, the country director of the BBC Media Action affirmed his enthusiasm for the partnership, which he says, will provide opportunities for synergy between the two organisations for maximum impact.
“Our mandates connect but we can do more for our different organisations and for the country. We can help the media to communicate better with their audiences through capacity building while we reach the audiences and communicate with communities across Nigeria with our messages of transparency and accountability and ultimately help improve and bring about lasting changes in their lives, “Gallagher explained.
KENNETH AZAHAN
