By Israel Mbam
To further step down the campaign for active citizens in governance issues, Community Outreach and Public Empowerment Foundation (COPE Foundation), has has held town hall meetings in three Local Government Areas of Ebonyi State; Abakaliki, Ikwo and Ezza South LGA.
Addressing participants at the town hall meetings, the Executive Director of COPE Foundation, Mr. Azubuike Mgbebu said the Ebonyi Active Citizens project (EACP) is a civic engagement initiative designed and implemented by the Community Outreach and Empowerment Foundation with support from YIAGA Africa and the National Endowment for Democracy. He stated that it was designed to strengthen democratic participation, promote Civic Awareness, and enhance inclusive governance at community level.
Mr. Mgbebu outlined some key achievements of the project so far to include capacity building of community Active Citizens Advocates (CACA), Grassroots Civic Education Expansion, Campus town hall meetings and youth Mobilization as well as strategic advocacy and stakeholders engagements. Others were strengthening citizens and Government Dialogue, behavioural and attitudinal change, media and visibility impact, and creation of sustainable civic networks.
He explained that the town hall meetings in the three focus LGAs was to further amplify the message of civic engagement and deliberate on issues raised in other activities such as factors that affect citizens participation in governance, civic awareness, women and youth inclusion, accountability and actions.
Participants at the meeting including Mr. Moses Ekeke, Dr. Ifeanyi Nweli, Emmanuel Nwojiji, Amos Nome, Chemezie Ude, Chidimna Nnachi, Hon. Monday Nwigbo, Paul Eche among others emphasised the need for continuous sensitization of citizens on their civic rights, strengthening civic structures and promoting inclusive governance as ways to encourage active citizens in Ebonyi State.
