The Lagos State Government has reaffirmed its commitment to deepening civic engagement and strengthening citizen participation in governance, as it hosted a sensitisation forum aimed at bridging the communication gap between government and residents.
The one-day programme, themed “Sensitisation on Volunteerism: The Power of Community in Action. Say what you need, Say what you want, Lagos State is Listening”, was organised by the Office of Political, Legislative and Civic Engagement at the STO Resource Centre, Alausa-Ikeja.
In his keynote address, the Deputy Governor, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat said many Lagosians remain unaware of government projects and services, a challenge that limits their benefits and hinders feedback. “We have realised that a lot of what we do is not known by the people, and this is a serious communication challenge. We want to know what we are doing well and where we are falling short,” he said.
Hamzat cited developments in healthcare, including 26 general hospitals, 376 primary health centres, and ongoing projects such as the Iba-Ojo General Hospital, as examples of government investments that require greater public awareness.
The Special Adviser to the Governor on Political, Legislative and Civic Engagement, Dr. Afolabi Tajudeen, stressed that citizen participation is a vital pillar of democracy. “We see a lot of criticism on social media. We want people to know we are running a responsive government and your voice counts. Come and criticise us here; ask us questions. The government cannot do it alone,” he said.
He added that the state was building a new culture of volunteerism, where residents act as partners in governance and help drive development at the grassroots.
The Permanent Secretary of the Office, Engr. Sholabomi Shasore, echoed the call, noting that despite efforts such as town halls and market outreaches, many Lagosians remain unaware of available platforms for engagement.
She described the forum as a fresh step toward building “a Lagos where citizens are informed, engaged, and empowered to contribute meaningfully to governance.”
Commending the initiative, the Country Director of BudgIT, Mr. Gabriel Okeowo, said the sensitisation forum demonstrated the government’s willingness to embrace participatory democracy.
“Democracy is best served when it is participatory, and democracy can only be participatory when all actors in the system are involved,” he noted.
The event concluded with an interactive session where residents engaged the Deputy Governor with questions on governance. Participants expressed satisfaction with the responses and pledged to contribute more actively to governance through the state’s engagement platforms.
