On this Democracy Day, I had intended to rest my pen. I wanted to leave the fate written on the walls of history to speak for itself. I thought perhaps the sacrifices of those who fought for democracy were enough testimony. Yet, in the final hour, a thought stirred within me, compelling me to write a message to all of us who have come together to form this sovereign nation called Nigeria. My message is particularly for those who believe that the business of Nigeria lies in the hands of a powerful few. Perhaps they are influenced by what the German sociologist Robert Michels described as the "Iron Law of Oligarchy" ,the tendency for power to concentrate in the hands of a small elite. Looking at our politics, our institutions, and our economy, one may be tempted to believe that the destiny of Nigeria is determined only by those who occupy powerful offices and influential positions. But history tells a different story. Nigeria does not belong to any president, governor, politi...
By OrionTimes News Desk
Osogbo, Osun State – November 11, 2025: The Insight Initiative for Community and Social Development has unveiled the second phase of the Osun Open Local Government Project (OsunOpenLG 2.0) alongside the introduction of an innovative WhatsApp AI Chatbot named Amoye, aimed at enhancing civic engagement and transparency at the grassroots.
Speaking during a press conference in Osogbo, the Executive Director of the organisation, Jare Tiamiyu described the launch as “a celebration of vision, resilience and collective commitment to good governance in Osun State.”
The OsunOpenLG initiative, first introduced in 2023 with support from the Nigerian Youth Futures Fund (NYFF) implemented by LEAP Africa, was designed to bridge the gap between citizens and their local government authorities. The platform simplifies access to public information, strengthens accountability, and promotes civic participation.
“Local governments are the first point of contact for citizens, yet they are often the least understood and least transparent,” the Executive Director, Jare said. “Through OsunOpenLG, we aim to make openness a culture, not a campaign.”
The first phase of the project trained and deployed 66 community advocates across Osun’s local government areas, including six persons with disabilities, to promote inclusivity. These advocates have engaged communities through markets, schools, religious centres and town halls, educating residents on how to track local government funds and demand accountability constructively.
One of the project’s landmark achievements was the regular publication of FAAC allocations and expenditure data on the official website, www.osunopenlg.com, and social media platforms. The data were simplified into easy-to-read charts and infographics to help citizens “follow the money.”
The initiative has reportedly directly engaged over 2,100 people across 24 local government areas, received feedback from another 1,210 citizens, and reached an estimated two million people online.
As the project enters its second phase, OsunOpenLG 2.0 introduces Amoye, a WhatsApp-based AI chatbot that provides real-time civic information to residents. Citizens can now send messages to Amoye to instantly access verified details about local government budgets, allocations, headquarters locations, and public services.
“Amoye is more than technology. It is a digital extension of citizen engagement,” the Director explained. “With it, citizens can ask questions like ‘How much was my local government allocated this month?’ or ‘Where is my council’s headquarters?’ and get verified answers instantly.”
Beyond providing data, Amoye will also help local governments communicate directly with residents, fostering two-way engagement between citizens and officials.
The organisation emphasized that OsunOpenLG 2.0 will expand its training to include local government chairpersons, their aides, and other key stakeholders to institutionalize transparency practices across all councils in Osun State.
To ensure accountability to its partners and funders, the Insight Initiative pledged to measure the project’s impact through data, tracking chatbot usage, reporting improvements in local government communication, and documenting success stories.
Concluding the press conference, the Executive Director expressed gratitude to all stakeholders, including advocates, media allies, and the people of Osun State, for sustaining the vision.
“OsunOpenLG 2.0 is a collective mission to make governance work better for everyone,” he said. “Together, we can build a state where openness becomes our shared culture.”
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