Ibadan Book Club unveils five strategic literary projects to boost reading culture - ITREALMS

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The Ibadan Book Club is set to host its annual Stakeholders' and Strategic Meeting on Saturday, June 27, 2026, marking a pivotal moment in the club’s mission to revitalize reading culture in the Oyo State capital, reports ITREALMS.

The session, which will commence at 12:00 noon at the Oyo State Library Board, opposite Cocoa House, Dugbe, is strictly reserved for the club’s patrons and registered members.

Google Doodle marks Nigeria @65, celebrates national identity in digital age by Remmy Nweke - Telecoms Clinic@ITREALMS

Telecoms Clinic@ITREALMS ... making leadership SENSE with digital news!

As Nigeria marks 65 with a special Google Doodle, it is more than art. In this episode of Telecoms Clinic@ITREALMS, REMMY NWEKE writes that it is about digital diplomacy which amplifies Nigeria on a global platform with national pride, identity, and visibility in the tech-driven world where culture and technology intersect powerfully.

Preamble:

The global technology giant, Google, on Wednesday, October 1, 2025, joined millions of Nigerians in celebrating the country’s 65th Independence anniversary with a special Google doodle, featuring the iconic green-and-white flag waving proudly against a bright sky backdrop.

Killing of cows in Igbo culture: Family Use vs. Title-Taking by Remmy Nweke

Features@ITREALMS ... making leadership SENSE with digital news!

In Igbo society, the killing of cows carries different meanings depending on the context. 

For family use, such as during weddings, funerals, or harvest celebrations, a cow is slaughtered to strengthen kinship and demonstrate hospitality.

The act is a reminder that kinship reveals itself in moments of need, as expressed in the proverb, “Nwanne dị na mba, ọbuna o zuo, o mara onye ga-ebu ya.” Literally, this means that even though there may be good friends in the diaspora or far from home, when the true moment of test arrives, such as when a corpse begins to decay, it will be revealed who must carry it. Friends and well-wishers may withdraw at that point, but true relatives cannot escape the responsibility.

Superball Youth League 2025 set to redefine sports, culture in Nigeria - ITREALMS

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SuperBall Youth League 2025 is set to take over the National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos on 27th and 28th September 2025.

Organized by CourtVision, a pioneering sports and lifestyle company, this two-day festival will celebrate Sports, Chess, Music, Dance, and Culture, bringing together thousands of young people, families, and communities for an unforgettable experience.

NICO, NCC to leverage telecoms for Nigeria’s culture promotion - ITREALMS

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The National Institute for Cultural Orientation (NICO) and the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) are working out details to leverage telecommunications channels for promotion of the nation’s rich cultural heritage, reports ITREALMS.

This follows the meeting of the two Federal Government establishments on Thursday at the Federal capital Territory, Abuja led by their chief executive officers, Otunba Biodun Ajiboye and Dr. Aminu Maida in that order.

Osun, FG partner on culture, tourism development - ITREALMS

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... FG to facilitate development of Okinni-Owala Dam

Governor Ademola Adeleke has secured a partnership deal with the Ministry of Tourism on the development of tourism potentials in the state, disclosing the readiness of his administration to harness the huge tourism assets of the state for the benefit of the people.

The partnership was reached when the Minister of Tourism, Lola Ade-Johnson,Esq, paid the governor courtesy call in Abuja on Tuesday.

Andoni Tourism: Rivers’ Arts and Culture boss woos investors - ITREALMS

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The Acting Director, Rivers State Council for Arts and Culture, Mr. Dike Eleberi has asked investors to take advantage of the huge tourism potentials in Andoni local government in Rivers state and invest.

Speaking to journalists on the sideline of the official unveiling ceremony of the "third edition of Andoni Unity Festival" weekend in Port Harcourt, the Rivers state capital, Eleberi described tourism as a huge investment standpoint even as he urged investors to harness its potentials in the State.

Hannatu Musawa: I have not broken any law, as 'Minister or Youth corp member' - ITREALMS

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The newly sworn-in Minister of Art, Culture and Creative Economy, Hannatu Musawa has declared that she did not break any law for accepting the Ministerial appointment by President Bola Tinubu, reports ITREALMS.

Hannatu in a personally issued public statement available to ITREALMS on Sunday, affirmed she is still serving as a member of National Youth Service Corp (NYSC) with four months to go.

Igbo culture and diaspora: The AASDU Lagos philosophy - ITREALMS

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Ndi Igbo worldwide are members of the Jewish race, according to historical facts. They trace their origin and network to the destruction of the hominid by flood, and the eventual covenants God had with Noah and the Patriarchs. 

Global cultural mappings have consistently identified unique trends and patterns of culture that are now classified as Igbo cultural heritage. As a distinctive group of the human race, Ndi Igbo have a peculiar worldview through which they tame and subdue whatever socio-economic and political environment they find themselves, time and space notwithstanding.

ISA Confeb'22 advances Igbo society, culture, language and history - ITREALMS

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The Igbo Studies Association (ISA) has advanced society, culture, language and history at its 19th annual international conference and meeting held between May 12 and 14, 2022, reports ITREALMS.

The conference with the theme “Onye Aghana Nwanne Ya: Everyone Counts,” the three-day virtual event of intellectual engagement and interaction of the USA-based association advanced ISA’s mission to foster active collaboration among academics and professionals towards the promotion and advancement of Igbo society, culture, language, and history.

MoIC pushes for deployment of sign language interpreters on TV stations - ITREALMS

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The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, has directed the National Broadcasting Commission to implement the Broadcasting Code provision that mandates television stations to deploy sign language interpreters on their major news bulletin, for the benefit of persons living with disability.

The Minister issued the directive in Abuja on Monday when he received executives of the Centre for Citizens with Disabilities on a courtesy visit to his office.

Nigeria safe for tourism says Minister - ITREALMS

ITREALMS:

The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, has said the successful, two-week tour of cultural heritage and historic sites across the country by local and foreign bikers, under the auspices of the Latin America Motorcycles Association (LAMA), has confirmed that Nigeria is now safe for tourism and business, reports ITREALMS.

The Minister made the remarks in Abuja on Monday while bidding farewell to the foreign bikers at the end of the tour that took them to eight states covering four geo-political zones and the Federal
Capital Territory (FCT).

“From the report that I have received, this tour is a great success. It is also an attestation to the fact that Nigeria is indeed a safe destination for tourists and business people alike. Yes, there are security challenges here and there - and this is not peculiar to Nigeria. But our country is safer today than it was before the advent of this Administration in 2015, thanks to the political will shown by the Administration and the commitment of our security agencies,” he said.

Alhaji Mohammed said the bikers who crisscrossed Nigeria by road all returned to Abuja, the starting point of the tour, safe and sound and will be in a better position to tell the world the situation in the country.

“They are not armchair analysts or critics. They are practical men and women who zoomed across the country on their power bikes. No one can tell the story better than them. And the feedback we have received is overwhelmingly positive,” he said.

The Minister said the tour, which he flagged off in Abuja on 23rd of October 2018, took the bikers to Niger, Kogi, Enugu, Cross River, Rivers, Edo, Oyo and Lagos as well as the FCT.

Uboshe Uboshe/GEE

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Vote-buying: A culture of shame and stereotyping poverty - ITREALMS

Commentary@ITREALMS:

Another moment has dawn on us, the moment to decide the future of Osun State. Either good or bad, that choice lies on our very thumbs. Whichever way we swings it, the effect(s) would bear social and economic impacts on everyone.

Just as it is the norm in our political process, Osun people will go to the poll on September 22 to decide who leads the state for another four years. With their thumbs, they would make a choice and the outcome of the election will depict the projection of the people for the future; either for the restoration of Osun or fancy of their stomachs.

I'm particular about the fancy of stomachs due to the depressing culture of vote-buying that is shamelessly deployed to influence electorates. It is disturbing that the plight of the people have become a tool perpetuate their oppressors in power. That is a narrative the people must rise up to reject.

Disturbingly, those who cornered our resources for their private uses, have shown insatiable quest for their greediness. Rather than be remorseful and sought the people apology for failing them in rendering the expected service when they were entrusted with leading the state, they are either scheming themselves or trying to foist another error on the state, to maintain their lust for raking our collective wealths.

They mocked the people situation by doling out cash every election period to influence their choice. It is an evil they sought to normalise but with our firm resolves, we can resist them. 

Osun is in shamble and struggling to survive the damages of the past. Recurring leadership failures have left the state in a precarious situation and salvaging the sordid outlook of both economic and social imbalance that plagued the state requires firm resolves and patriotic postures.

Casting the ballot is a civic right that should not be influenced by enticement. Whenever electorates surrendered their mandate for token, it implies their complicit in the misgovernance that plagued our society. They should blame themselves for the horrendous plights that the ruling elites melts on them. 

So, it is time we discontinue our mistakes and ignore every deceits that orchestrated the disappointments and regrets of the past. Our votes should preface a promising tomorrow, not compound our woes. It should halt the uninspiring outlook in our dear state, not prolong our harrowings.

That is the essence of democracy. That was why our founding-father fought for democracy because they were convinced that it allows us the choice to determine our future. Within our thumbs lies our faith and that of our society.

As such, we must brace up and take a firm decision to correct the anomalies of the past. We should outsmart our oppressors by choosing our collective comforts and growths to their selfish attempt to further subjugate us. We should reject fancy of stomachs and let our votes reflect our consciences. 

We should rise up to the defence of Osun state and ignore advances to lure our votes with token in order to continue the pillaging of our collective wealth by only few individuals. No matter the situation, we should never succumb to selling our votes. 

It is the power we have to effect a better society and we must 

make our oppressors understand that we want a prosperous Osun where our stomachs will be filled without restraint all day and not the deceits of a cup of rise that can not satisfy us for a single day.

Our democracy is at the edge and we must not let it slide. Vote-buying is anti-democratic but as it is with almost every other illicit acts, it flourishes when their willing accomplice. Either knowingly or unknowingly, the lust for money has aided the shameless culture of monetising votes. It must stop because our future hangs in the balance.

*Contributed by Kabiru Adeniyi Adisa FCA, President General, Charitable Youth for Nation Building Initiative

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Ojobo now AFAC fellow

ITREALMS:

 

The Director Public Affairs at the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Mr. Tony Ojobo, has been honoured with a distinguished Fellowship award by the African Festival of Art and Culture (AFAC) reports ITRealms.

AFAC led by its Director-General, Mr. Joseph Ibe, presented the award to Ojobo at the NCC Head Office in Abuja, recently.

He informed that the award was conferred on Ojobo for his exemplary public service delivery and the professionalism he has brought to bear on Public Sector Communication as the Spokesperson of NCC.

In response, Mr. Ojobo expressed thanks to the delegation and for the award which he said is not just an honour to him alone but most importantly to the Commission stating clearly that the honour and several others would not have been possible without the diligence and team spirit of the staff of his department as well as the support and understanding of the Management of the Commission.

Doris Minimah/GEE

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Pix 1; Tony Ojobo, Director Public Affairs Department at NCC receives award from Joseph Ibeh, DG AFAC.

Pix 2: L-R: Sonny Aragba Akpore, Head Media Management; Uke Claudia, Director Creative/Children Department; Joseph Ibeh, DG AFAC; Tony Ojobo, Director Public Affairs NCC; Dr. Aloefuna Ekene, Secretary AFAC; Reuben Muoka, Head Public Relations and Robert Okoneukure, Logistics AFAC.

Nigerian youths and surging drug culture

Weekend Sermon@ITREALMS:

One hit is too much and a thousand is not enough - Austin Okere

Photo by Timothy Hale; Source: Flickr

I feel deeply compelled to write about this growing phenomenon of drugs and our youths. Much as I could join in playing the proverbial ostrich and draw false comfort by burying my head in the sand, I choose to call it out the way it is. This compulsion is deepened by the recent happenings in our promising Youth Music scene, with the deaths of three young people in just five days in Lagos, Nigeria.

RETURN TO THE 60’s DRUG & POP CULTURE?

It seems that we are speedily careening into the crazy drug & pop culture of the sixties fueled by a newfound liberalism, epitomized by Bands such as the Beetles, Rolling Stones, Beach Boys, and such icons as Jimi Hendrix, John Coltrane, Fela Kuti et al.

In more recent climes, there have been notable drug casualties; Whitney Houston, more lovingly referred to as ‘the voice’ for her incredible talent was found dead in her bath at the Beverly Hilton Hotel after a cocaine overdose. Ironically, this happened on the eve of the Grammy Awards at the same hotel, she was just 48 years old. Her daughter, Bobbi Kristina, just 22, died a few months later while in hospice care. She too was found unresponsive in a bathtub in her Georgia home after a drug overdose.

41-year-old Linkin Park singer Chester Bennington, who had spoken about his struggles with drug and alcohol addiction was found dead apparently by suicide, by an employee in his private residence. His close friend, singer Chris Cornell also killed himself just before his 53rd birthday. Purple Rain singer, Roger Nelson, best known as Prince died of an opioid overdose in an elevator at his Paisley Park compound in Minnesota, aged just 59.

There are scores of others, not nearly as popular, but nonetheless part of the growing statistics of those who have succumbed to the ugly scourge of hard drugs.

DRUGS ALWAYS HAVE THE SUPERIOR POWE OF ADDICTION

“One hit is too much and a thousand is not enough” these were the words of a pretty, young woman miraculous saved from the clutches of drug addiction and featured on the Jubilee edition of Turning Point, a testimonial TV series. Undoubtedly, one of the very lucky few. She just wanted to try it out of curiosity and experimentation; and then again and again until it became a controlling habit.

Once you yield, you yield total control. Drugs always have the superior power of addiction, as has been proven time and again. There is a hard drug variety called crystal meth, where just one hit gets you totally hooked and has an accelerated path to mental destruction and painful death. As if this is not bad enough, fentanyl is said to be far worse, and 50 times more potent than heroin.

DRUGS COULD KILL THE HUGE POTENTIAL OF MILLENNIALS

I see millennials as great architects of our future. That fearless generation at ease with technology & entrepreneurship, and fostering relationships across all divides regardless of race, nationality or class.

It is this same fearless adventurism that makes them the perfect target for hard drug experimentation and eventual dependency. This is not helped by the so-called mythical concept of a 'legal high' and other such deceptive tags on hard drugs; whether they be cannabis or crystal meth. They all have the same destructive potential.

The mulling of legalizing marijuana in many countries in the developed world bodes a potential ill wind. It could massively affect our youths and destroy our collective future.

DO NOT BE IN A RUSH TO SEND OFF YOUR KIDS

We need to be a bit skeptical about sending children away from our sphere of influence too early in their development. Should there be a need, It should be when they have attained sufficient maturity to stand on their own and have become comfortable in their own skins.

Many children sent overseas at great financial sacrifice by their parents for 'superior' education have run into trouble under the influence. Many have been rusticated from their schools with their parents none the wiser. They keep carrying on as if they are still in school, sinking deeper and deeper into bad company and ill influence until it is virtually too late for redemption.

It is expedient to insist on the school report of your ward detailing their progress in learning and character, and their current student status before wiring off next term’s fees. This is not a task to be delegated.

WATCH OUT! THE SCOURGE IS HERE TOO

On a note of caution, however, it is not only in these climes of relative wealth that drug abuse among the youth is rampant. The scourge has also become pervasive in erstwhile transit countries on the west coast of Africa. Children as young as in secondary schools (aged 16 years and below) have free access to drugs and do use them frequently to the blissful ignorance of parents and guardians. Youth Parties and Concerts tend to be high indulgent centers.

BEWARE OF OVER-THE-COUNTER DRUGS TOO

The amount of "ordinary looking" over the counter drugs that kids are popping to alter moods is shocking. The popular Anna Nicole Smith died from a prescription drug overdose at the Hardrock Hotel in Hollywood. Legendary king of pop, Michael Jackson, suffered the same fate.

A FALSE SENSE OF INVINCIBILITY

There is, unfortunately, a sense of invincibility or false confidence about these kids that it cannot happen to me, notwithstanding the contrary evidence out there. How do we help our youth and especially the millennials guard against this scourge?

Perhaps we should be closer to our children and note any changes in behaviour that should alarm us. Talk with them regarding their friends, and make every effort to meet them. Create an environment where they can come to us in times of perplexity and the need to talk to someone. If we abdicate this responsibility, the vacuum created will be occupied by other influences, not the least peer pressure.

FRIENDSHIP WITH OUR CHILDREN SHOULD BE COMPLEMENTED BY PARENTING

We need to create time to play our parental roles and imbue into our children a moral compass with which they can properly navigate their way in life. Show by example rather than just talking; because children are extremely perceptive and tend to more easily copy our vices than following our advice.

We should all join hands to take drastic steps to tackle this problem before it consumes our children and our future. America has taken a step by declaring an emergency on this opioid crisis.

Courtesy: Austin Okere is the Founder of CWG Plc & Entrepreneur in Residence at CBS, New York. Austin also serves on the World Economic Forum Global Agenda Council on Innovation and Intrapreneurship and on the Advisory Board of the Global Business School Network based in Washington DC.

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Worldstage Economic Summit'17: Nigerians urged to imbibe innovation culture

ITRealms:

The President and CEO of Worldstage Group, Mr. Segun Adeleye, has urged Nigerians to imbibe the culture of innovation and collective economic development, reports ITRealms.

In his welcome address to the 2017  Worldstage Economic Summit, Adeleye who is the convener said in Lagos, both Nigerians and business owners alike within the country needed to imbibe the culture of innovation for economic development and transformation.

According to him, diversification into non-oil sectors may not be enough to sustain the nation’s economic development without adapting new ways of doing things.

“Nigeria is projected to be the third most populous country behind India and China by 2050, any diversification now without innovation by businesses and government may be tantamount to running on the same spot," he said.

Adeleye also explained that the theme ‘”Transforming Business and Economy Through Innovation’ was inspired through a new thinking, stressing that the reality today indicates an economy where the majority is disenfranchised and trapped in irrelevance. 

"Yet we are at a time in history of information explosion when nothing is hidden about where countries are and where they want to be in the future. 

"While we are still lamenting the lost opportunity to have developed with our oil wealth in the past, we can see the future unfolding before us, just as how the internal combustion engine is projected to die and the oil business, the mainstay of our economy is to become obsolete in the very near future."

He said, If we all know the shape the future is taking, we as a nation cannot afford to be stranded with costly obsolete technology or waste valuable time before changing direction, unless we want to remain the dump site of the future.” 

"With the calls for Nigeria to diversify its economy from oil after several missed opportunities in six decades, the new question begging for answer, is how fast and far can diversification solve economic problems in the short, medium and long terms?"

He advised that “We should not make the mistake to think that because the people in government are educated and well-travelled, they will be conversant with the shape of things to come and pursue the right policies in infrastructure development, education, smart grid, clean energy among others. Sometimes, we have to question our sensitivity, sanity and care for fellow human beings and our country.”

Adeleye noted that so much has been read about the support for SMEs or MSMEs by the government from the federal to the local government level, yet in reality they don’t exist. “I will pulse for you to sear your mind for few seconds; where are the so much talked about SMEs that are supposed to be creating millions of job? I personally believe that policies to support entrepreneurs should be such that anyone that have made an attempt at doing anything at all rather than roaming the street looking for unexciting jobs must get one form of support from the government or the established businesses in the private sector”.

Speaking further, he said "The private sector here is as culpable as the government. You know our big corporate businesses have insatiable appetite for foreign products and services and if they must patronize the small local ones at all, they will offer to pay ridiculous prices that they cannot get anywhere in the world. Beggars have no choice. It’s either they take it or die. With this corporate terrorism, it’s not surprising that we have hardly seen any small enterprise that survived and grow in our country like the inspiring cases of Apple, Microsoft, Google, Facebook, Tweeter and recently Uber in the United States.

He said: “We hold it as a duty in this forum and any similar ones to scream until those concerned will hear us. We don’t have any other choice anyway, because it’s about our wellbeing as a people, it’s about our survival, and it’s about the future of our children.”

According to him “WorldStage had made sure that the report of the last year summit with the theme: ‘Addressing Unemployment Crisis in Nigeria’ got to all the relevant government departments from the presidency, National Assembly to the state government. “Today’s summit will not be an exception. The lead paper will come from an expert in Entrepreneurship and Business Innovation Economics, Dr. Ayodele Shittu, of the University of Lagos. After that we shall have presentations on the sub-themes which will serve as guides to the thorough discussion of the main theme by the panelists.”

Adeleye also hinted that the summit this year will recognize outstanding contributions to economic growth during the current year through a “ WorldStage Economic Summit Awards” The awards will feature, Nigerian Development Best Bank of the Year, Nigerian Airport of the Year, Nigerian TV Station of the Year, Nigerian Public Institution of the Year amongst many others.

He said "The winners emerged from the compilation of the responses to our questionnaires by stakeholders adding that the Awards for only one outstanding institution or individual per sector of the economy will be presented after the panel discussion.

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Revealed! Why Benin is home of art, culture in Nigeria

Interview: Art & Fashion@ITRealms:

Following the just concluded coronation of the 39th Oba of Benin, Nkem Ndem spoke with Prince Omoregbe Erediauwa of Benin, brother to the new king and CEO of Hexagon Networks, who was actively involved in the coronation planning to talk about the impact of the newly enthroned king, Oba Ewaure II on travel and tourism in the state. Excerpts:

Tell us about yourself and your passions

My name is Omoregbe Erediauwa, I am Owner|CEO Hexagon Network Limited, a company that is into Hospitality and Tourism. I like watching movies, listening to music and playing a bit of golf.

What fuels your passion for tourism?

I believe my background has played a major role. I belong to the Benin Royal Family and as such, I grew up in the midst of exquisite art and a very deep culture. As you may be aware, the Benin royal family has been known for its arts and culture for over a thousand years. It was evident in the display of this art and culture in the immediate past coronation ceremony of the present Oba of Benin Oba Ewuare II.

You currently own one of the most popular clubs in Benin, a hotel, and an art gallery, what is the vision behind these establishments?

Well, like I said, growing up, hospitality and tourism were second nature. So, in my University days, I decided to start something with a friend. We started a bar and restaurant called Woodpecker; it was my first business venture sometime in ‘93 – ‘94. I had to shut it down after a year and a half, as I had to travel to complete my Master’s degree. After my Masters, I decided to come back home and start something bigger and better than my last effort. That, basically, was how Hexagon Network Limited was born. The network serves as an umbrella company for The Hexagon: the entertainment outfit, Crowne Art Gallery, Crowne Hotels e.t.c.

What hopes do you have for tourism in Benin and Nigeria as a whole in the future?

I have very high hopes because this was one major thing our new Oba, Oba Ewuare II, talked about in his speech in the presence of the President ably represented by his Vice and Africa’s richest man, and both of them nodded in compliance when he told them that he will need their support in these regards. Also, the ‘Trust’ founded by the Oba – The Benin Royal Dynasty Trust – is also a vehicle that I believe will also help to drive tourism to its greatest height in Edo state and also in Nigeria. Finally, we have two sons from Edo State who are members of The National Assembly chairing the committee on Arts and culture, who I also believe will do their possible best to support us and also the country.

Your brother, formerly crown Prince Eheneden Erediauwa, was crowned the new Oba of Benin at the just concluded coronation, what is the significance of the event to Benin and Africa as a whole?

The coronation has reassured us of our culture and tradition. The event has been celebrated the same way for about or over a thousand years, so reading about it, hearing about it and finally being able to participate in it, draws you closer and makes you appreciate where you are from as a Benin person and an African.

How do you foresee his reign?

In his coronation speech, Oba Ewuare II stated that he would be the embodiment and the expression of culture, aspirations and history of our people and I strongly believe him.  Also, he picked the name of another great king Oba Ewuare 1 (1440-1473), one of the greatest Obas of Benin Kingdom, and that is a hint on what we should expect to see during his reign.

What are the changes you look forward to seeing in this new reign?

Certainly, I look forward to witnessing a higher regard and respect for the palace and the royal institution as a whole from around the world. Also, increased recognition for Benin art and culture.

Why should anyone visit Benin City?

It is glaring. Benin is the home of art and culture, anyone who sincerely appreciates life in itself  is bound to have a memorable time in Benin.

*Contributed by Nkem Ndem, a PR Associate at Jumia Travel

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BudgIT leading civic technology culture in Nigeria - Onigbinde

Interview@ITRealms:

 The Lead partner and co-founder of BudgIT with Joseph Agunbiade in 2011, Oluseun Onigbinde, in this chat with REMMY NWEKE told ITRealms following his stint with the Aspen Institute New Voices Fellowship and Stanford University; that they are enthroning civic technology culture in Nigeria with what started as a hackathon organized by Co-Creation Hub some five years ago.

Excerpts:

How did you get here?

Wow. Getting here has been with the support of God, people and the entire ecosystem. We have been very fortunate to come at a time when there was Co-Creation Hub who are interested in seeding social tech startups across the world. The budget was also being published by the Budget Office of the Federation and we were very only acting as infomediaries for the public. We also got a lot of people who believed in us from the start. This included Indigo Trust, Tony Elumelu Foundation, Open Society Initiative for West Africa. We have been able to reach over 1 million Nigerians and also have presence in 16 states where we track local community projects. 

What can you tell us about the Aspen Institute New Voices Fellowship?

Aspen New Voices Fellowship is geared towards raising new voices across the world with focus on health and global development issues. These are people who are working to make an impact in their fields and they range from scientists, professors, activists, policy makers and social entrepreneurs. They are currently looking for new fellows and I advise folks doing impactful work in this area to apply. 

What is BudgIT, its objectives and goals?

The goal of BudgIT is to distribute access data to the public in a simple and accessible manner. BudgIT's work is to ensure that every Nigerian has equal access to the fiscal state of the society and uses such information to demand service delivery and accountability. BudgIT uses any lawful means to make this happen and we have a strong presence on social media and also work in rural communities. We track public projects in these states. 

Can you share with us what particular story that triggered or inspired the project BudgIT?

I wanted to leave the bank and do something different. I started with a climate change organization known as Green Acts which did not work out as I thought. I learnt my lesson and while working for the bank I still was looking for something to do. I was just sitting on my desk and I reviewed the applications by Co-Creation Hub. I thought of making the budget accessible after checking up civic projects online. I called it Budget4u. Later, we changed the name to BudgIT. That's how the phenomenon started. 

How has it been championing the project in terms of how easy and difficulties you have faced in recent times?

Leading any entity is not an easy task and it requires to continuously keep being creative in ensuring value is delivered for citizens, investors and all stakeholders. We also have to consider balance in all that we do. It is not easy because a lot of people are averse to accountability of public funds. They take it as being rude. The military hangover still works on them but they don’t understand that democracy is strengthened through accountability. It is a work that is never done. 

How do you feel when Mr. Bill Gates commended your effort back home in Nigeria at the lecture?

I was actually travelling and when I landed, my social media platforms were buzzing. It was delightful moment that the richest man in the world and also the co-chair of the world's largest philanthropy recognizes our work. I was so elated and this kind of validation keeps one on. 

Do you think the Nigeria environment is adopting the BudgIT goals?

Yes. The citizens are getting it and they are delighted when we share new pieces of information in interesting formats. They get it that it is necessary that they can participate in democracy effectively beyond voting in elections. We also have to acknowledge that public institutions are also interested in putting more data out there. We have worked with NEITI, NNPC and other agencies in making data more accessible and incentivizing actions from citizens to ask questions. The environment is changing. Maybe not as rapid as we will want but there is an improvement. 

Are you getting the kind of cooperation you require for mainstreaming the ideals of BudgIT in Nigerian society?

As said before, we are trying to instill the idea of transparency and accountability in Nigeria. Think how we have been making a lot of advocacy on making National Assembly finances open. There is still a lot of resistance from the political class to make budgets and public finances closed. It has nothing to do more than corruption. It is a tough climb but we have to take it step by step. 

Has BudgIT been replicated? If yes, where? And if no, why not?

Yes. I can't say in the exact way but we have people pushing ideas such as TransparencIT or VoteIT. A bit off for me that people trying to take our naming pattern but I am also interested in expanding the civic technology space. The field is so wide and the work is enormous and idea of making issues simple can be applied to different areas of governance. 

How can BudgIT be used beyond a national budget monitoring?

We do work for subnational transparency, making it easy for people in states to have more access to the budgets. We also work to support institutions in Nigeria to improve reporting and presentation. We are also interested in extractive sector transparency. It is not just about the national budget, we have worked to advocate more system-wide transparency and get the society to be more efficient. 

I think it was BudgIT that blow open the millions of Naira, former Lagos State governor, Raji Fashola used in building a website, kindly recount the story?

It is not a whistle-blowing exercise as most people know it. We just brought forward the data presented by the Lagos State Government and we made that line public. The funny thing is that we were interested in interrogating other items in the list of contracts published by the State government but that just took over the news cycle. Lagos State has a Public Procurement Law that mandates it to electronically publish all its contract. It did that and we brought out the data from its haystack and put it into a tweet. It was nothing political and it ties to all the issues of subnational transparency we advocate. We can't talk about fixing this country without transparency and accountability.

Do you think the whistle blowing of those facts yielded the right results?

It did not in my own view. The media did not look into the entire contracts. Mr. Fashola provided a response that muddled the issues and showed he was not informed of the actual cost of these things. It also reinforces that there was no competitive bidding. One thing that baffles me is that why can't every taxpayer have access to contract information and also bid for it? I don’t know but public funds are sacred to me. It is a huge burden of trust to be given the responsibility to manage public funds.  When we say Open Contracting is important to efficient use of public resources, politicians ignore it. There is no data more difficult to get from government than a list of contract, most times it reeks of points of patronage. Believe me, startups in Yaba can build that site for N5m. There was a petition submitted by another organization, I guess the EFCC was not interested. It was nothing personal against Mr Fashola but brings the question into light why does every contract with government has to be one-hit that fixes one for life?

What other milestone can you say BudgIT has achieved since its foundation?

A lot and I will say we have given the budgets to more people, supported at least 8 public institutions in free software and institution building, partnered with 35 organizations and also we were instrumental in Nigeria joining the Open Government Partnership. We are leading the civic technology culture in Nigeria and bringing the transparency into light. The impact can be seen on our website: yourbudgit.com

Where do you see BudgIT in the next 2 to five years?

We are working on a medium term fund and also ensure we become a stronger institution within. We are focused on measuring impact effectively, delivering value to our donors and also ensure that we spread our work in the states and in the sub-region. 

What message do you have for the youth with respect to governance, especially in Africa and Nigeria moving forward?

The young people of Africa need to understand that their future is being expended daily and they can't leave governance to everyday politicians. They need to participate not just by voting but by demanding accountability. We need young voices rising up to demand more efficient use of our resources. 

What next?

To continuously strive towards building a society where the use of public treasury is transparently accessible and explained Nigerians in the simplest and accessible form.

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Pix; Oluseun Onigbinde, co-founder BudgIT