The YMonitor Quarterly show for this quarter examined issues around adopting the Freedom of information Act (FOI Act) as a strategy & instrument for citizens empowerment and social movement.
Freedom of information which may be narrowly interpreted as the right to access information held by public bodies, is intrinsically linked to the fundamental human right of freedom of expression.
Dr Ifeoma Oluwasemilore, a lecturer in the Faculty of Law, University of Lagos, was our guest for the show. She discussed the applicability of the FOI Act and its adoption for citizen empowerment and social movements.
The Freedom of information Act can contribute to government openness and accountability, and help prevent and combat corruption, thereby enhancing good governance. At the same time, it can also be a key strategy & instrument for citizen’s empowerment.
Also, there is widespread recognition of new strategies that can help shape the future of social movements; this includes the FOI Act, which opens up new frontiers & also presents new opportunities. Information can mobilise, increase transparency and accountability & also serve as an instrument for citizen’s empowerment; as a well-informed citizen is less ignorant, he/she can stand his ground & have referenceable facts to back up his demands.
Finally, the development of information and media literacy, allowing the public to be more than passive recipients of messages, is also a relevant element of an accountability framework.
Watch the show:
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