{"id":1925,"date":"2025-07-31T14:42:35","date_gmt":"2025-07-31T14:42:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/speakoutafricainitiative.org\/?p=1925"},"modified":"2025-07-31T14:53:44","modified_gmt":"2025-07-31T14:53:44","slug":"loginaija-advocacy-visit-to-federal-ministry-of-justice-driving-foi-implementation-at-the-local-level","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/speakoutafricainitiative.org\/index.php\/2025\/07\/31\/loginaija-advocacy-visit-to-federal-ministry-of-justice-driving-foi-implementation-at-the-local-level\/","title":{"rendered":"LOGINaija Advocacy Visit to Federal Ministry of Justice: Driving FOI Implementation at the Local Level"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\n
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LOGINaija Advocacy Visit to Federal Ministry of Justice: Driving FOI Implementation at the Local Level<\/h1>\n

Date: Thursday, July 31, 2025<\/p>\n\n

As part of the ongoing strategic engagement phase following the close-out of the LOGINaija 1.0 Civic-Tech Pilot<\/strong>, the Speak Out Africa Initiative (SOAI)<\/strong> today paid an advocacy visit to the Federal Ministry of Justice<\/strong>, Abuja.<\/p>\n\n

The visit, led by Engr. Kenneth Eze<\/strong> (Lead Director, SOAI), was aimed at formalizing a strategic partnership with the Ministry to deepen the implementation of the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act<\/strong> at the grassroots level across Nigeria\u2019s 774 LGAs.<\/p>\n\n

Engagement Highlights<\/h2>\n

The SOAI delegation was warmly received by Mr. Garuba Godwin<\/strong>, Assistant Director, Freedom of Information Administration (FOIA) Unit, who represented the Honourable Minister of Justice. During the meeting, SOAI:<\/p>\n\n

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  • Formally presented the LOGINaija 1.0 Close-Out Report<\/strong>, detailing activities, learnings, and results from the pilot implementation in Gwagwalada Area Council (FCT), Umuahia North LGA (Abia), and Ibadan South-West LGA (Oyo)<\/strong>.<\/li>\n
  • Shared key data insights on FOI compliance, local governance challenges, and citizen demand for openness and transparency at the LGA level.<\/li>\n
  • Proposed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU)<\/strong> with the Ministry to institutionalize collaboration on FOI training, reporting, and joint interventions at the sub-national level.<\/li>\n
  • Requested the inclusion of SOAI<\/strong> in all Ministry-led FOI and open governance engagements, especially those targeting local governments.<\/li>\n <\/ul>\n\n

    In response, Mr. Garuba Godwin<\/strong> commended the LOGINaija initiative as a timely civic-tech intervention that aligns with the Ministry\u2019s renewed strategy to make the FOI Act more effective at the sub-national level. He affirmed the Ministry’s readiness to collaborate and encouraged SOAI to submit a draft MoU for immediate consideration.<\/p>\n\n

    Looking Ahead<\/h2>\n

    With this engagement, SOAI moves closer to unlocking critical national-level partnerships required to expand the LOGINaija framework across Nigeria\u2019s LGAs. Discussions are underway to onboard the FOIA unit into the project\u2019s next phase for localized FOI implementation and data-driven accountability mechanisms.<\/p>\n\n

    Photo Highlights<\/h2>\n
    \n \"LOGINaija\n \"SOAI\n \"Engagement\n \"Team\n \n \n <\/div>\n\n

    #LOGINaija #OpenGovernance #FOI #LocalGovernment #DigitalTransparency #SpeakOutAfrica #CivicTech #PolicyAdvocacy<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n