By Sani Idris Abdulrahman

The Kaduna State Government has reaffirmed its commitment to transparency, accountability, and citizen-driven governance as the 2026 Open Government Partnership (OGP) Week concluded.

Mukhtar Ahmed, Commissioner for Planning and Budget Commission in Kaduna, said the week highlighted Kaduna’s practical achievements in open governance and inclusive development.

In a wrap-up address issued to newsmen on Saturday in Kaduna, Ahmed marked the close of the global Open Governance Week and the celebration of 15 years of the OGP.

He said Kaduna had demonstrated that transparency, accountability, and inclusion were not abstract ideals but key principles shaping governance and public service delivery in the state.

According to him, activities during the week focused on improving healthcare and education services through innovative and inclusive governance approaches.

He added that youth leaders were engaged as drivers of social protection reforms and introduced to the Infrastructure Transparency Initiative (CoST) to strengthen use of the state’s Open Contracting portal.

Ahmed said discussions also centred on participatory budgeting and digital citizen engagement to ensure public funds reflect the priorities of the people.

He noted that stakeholders advanced policy dialogues on climate-resilient Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) systems and examined the links between climate change, gender, and care work.

The commissioner said Policy Clinic Dialogues on Open Contracting, radio programmes, and virtual awareness campaigns strengthened accountability and amplified grassroots voices.

Ahmed commended Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) and development partners for supporting government efforts across all thematic areas of the OGP process.

He said the collaboration ensured that state commitments translated into tangible improvements in the lives of Kaduna residents.

The commissioner described the 15th anniversary of the OGP as a renewed call to deepen institutional reforms and strengthen public trust in governance.

Ahmed urged members of the OGP community to sustain the momentum generated during the week and continue positioning Kaduna as a model for open governance in Nigeria and beyond.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Open Gov Week is a global initiative led by the Open Government Partnership (OGP) that brings together governments, civil society, and citizens to celebrate openness, transparency, and collaboration in public life.

It is a week when governments open their doors, both online and offline, to share, listen, and collaborate with citizens. (NAN)