The Sokoto state Commissioner of Information, Dr Dan Ladi Bako, in an event with our Sokoto state FOI Ambassador, Idris Muhammad, has shown optimism towards a better society where citizens can have even access to public records through the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act.
The commissioner, who is also the Sokoto state former Chairman of the National Broadcasting Commission, had received our Sokoto FOI Ambassador at the state Ministry of Information for an engagement session on the Freedom of Information Act, its applicability and challenges faced by citizens during requests. The engagement ended with much appreciation from the commissioner, who also received some FOI guides’ copies.
Idris Muhammad, our Sokoto state FOI ambassador, had also penetrated the Usman Dandofio University; the public affairs unit, main university library, department of Mass Communication etc. Beyond the University, our Ambassador has engaged several people and distributed guides across institutions such as the Shehu Shagari College of Education, Garkuwa FM, among others in Sokoto state.
The Freedom of Information Act was signed into law in Nigeria a few years ago, with the sole aim of promoting, enhancing, and developing the nation’s precarious democracy.
The Future Project, through her YMonitor accountability project, had launched a campaign to strengthen the nation’s democracy through citizen empowerment on the Freedom of Information Act. About 30 Ambassadors were recruited across the six regions and have been at the forefront of engaging the citizens and distributing our step-by-step guide on FOI request.