By Ehis Agbon
Kaduna State on Friday concluded the 2026 Open Government Week with a renewed commitment to transparency, accountability, and citizen participation in governance, as stakeholders from government, civil society, and development organizations gathered to reflect on the state’s progress in open governance reforms.
Speaking at the closing ceremony, the Commissioner for Planning and Budget Commission, Mukhtar Ahmed, described the week-long engagement as a significant milestone coinciding with the 15th anniversary of the Open Government Partnership (OGP).
Ahmed said Kaduna State had demonstrated the practical impact of open governance through dialogue, innovation, and collaboration aimed at improving public service delivery and strengthening citizen engagement.
“Transparency, accountability, and inclusion are not just abstract concepts—they are the core values driving our state forward,” he said.
According to him, activities during the week focused on critical areas of sustainable and inclusive development, including healthcare, education, youth empowerment, participatory budgeting, climate resilience, and open contracting.
The commissioner noted that youth leaders were engaged on social protection reforms and introduced to the CoST Initiative to enable them actively utilize the Open Contracting Portal for project monitoring and accountability.
He added that policy discussions were also held on climate-resilient Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) systems, as well as the impact of climate change on gender and care work.
Ahmed further stated that the state strengthened grassroots accountability through policy clinic dialogues on open contracting, radio programmes, and virtual awareness campaigns designed to increase public participation in governance.
He commended Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) and development partners for their contributions toward advancing open government reforms in Kaduna State.
“The progress we celebrate today is a direct result of the tireless efforts, vigilance, and collaboration of our Civil Society Organizations and development partners,” he said.
The commissioner emphasized that the 15-year milestone of the Open Government Partnership should serve as a renewed call for deeper institutional reforms and stronger public trust.
He urged stakeholders to sustain the momentum generated during the week and continue positioning Kaduna State as a model for open governance in Nigeria and beyond.
The event attracted government officials, civil society groups, youth representatives, development partners, and members of the public committed to promoting transparency and citizen-centered governance in the state.
