Dr Oluranti Adebule
Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State, yesterday said the newly created Office of Civic Engagement, OCE, is open to all Lagosians and will on behalf of the government, listen to the people and ensure their concerns are adequately addressed.
Ambode who was represented by his deputy, Dr. Idiat Oluranti Adebule at the flag off ceremony of the OCE, stated that “the essence of representative democracy is continual engagement of all stakeholders in the society.”
“In creating this office, we have opened our government to all for engagement. We want a participatory government, we want our government to listen to all your concerns, so we can bring people-oriented solutions,” the governor said.
Also speaking during his welcome address, Special Adviser to the Governor on Civic Engagement, Mr. Kehinde Joseph, stated that the office was created by Governor Ambode in his resolve towards sustenance of peace, ethical rebirth and working together of Lagosians without prejudice to the indigent.
Joseph stated that contrary to popular opinion, the OCE wasn’t created only to render financial assistance to the needy, but also interact and engage diverse interest groups, arms of government and other stakeholders in the project to sustain Lagos as a mega city.
“It is not only financial Assistance that we handle on behalf of the Government, our core responsibility spread across almost 20 Civic and Political tasks and duties likes it is our duty to initiate formulate and evaluate policies relating to citizens and stakeholders cohesion and engagement.” Mr. Kehinde Joseph told the audience.
Honourable Kehinde Joseph
He continued, “It is our duty to promote issues and activities relating to volunteerism and community engagements. We also appraise political and legislative issues for Governor’s attention. We deal with matters relating to political engagements and inclusion. We stand as a go-between the State Government and Political Parties at the National, …Read More
Source:: PM Newspaper
