The Media Rights Agenda, a Lagos- based Civil Society Organization, has conducted a two day workshop to equip monitors with skills with which to follow contract awards and execution.
The 2-day event which began on Tuesday 29th June 2021, with 24 participants comprising 7 females and 17 males, was brought to a close at about 2:40 pm on Wednesday.
In his opening remarks, Executive Director of the organization, Edetaen Ojo, “We are really looking at how to make the contracting process in Nigeria open and transparent. It is often said that procurement is one of government’s major activities because that is how government implements its projects In different sectors and it is also one of the biggest corruption risks, because when government officials wants to be corrupt contracts is one of the easiest ways to do that”.
He disclosed that the training was being funded by the Williams and Flora Hewlett Foundation and managed by the African Freedom of Information Center.
Many of the participants expressed excitement at the prospect of contributing their quota to the clean-up of Nigeria with the newly acquired skills and thanked the organisers for the opportunity.
Presentations were made by the Executive Director, Edetaen Ojo and the Director of Programmes, Mr Ayode Longe while the Administration Manager, Bunmi Bamiselu, took charge of the logistics.
The event held at the Blue Spring Hotel close to NANET Suites, just a stone’s throw from the Federal Secretariat complex in Abuja.