From Mika’il Tsoho, Dutse
The Dispute Resolution and Development Initiative (DRDI) has emphasized the crucial link between local government autonomy, citizen participation, and media engagement as catalysts for strengthening grassroots governance and service delivery in Jigawa State.
This was contained in a post-presentation report following an advocacy session on Local Government Autonomy and the Strategic Role of Media in Community-Driven Development (CDD), held during a stakeholder engagement meeting in Jigawa State.
Speaking on the engagement, DRDI’s Executive Director, Dr. Muhammad Mustapha Yahaya, said the initiative aimed to enlighten community leaders, civil society actors, and citizens on the role of local governance reforms in promoting accountability and development.
He explained that the advocacy focused on strengthening grassroots participation and enhancing transparency through effective media collaboration.
“The media remains a vital partner in ensuring citizens’ voices are heard and government actions are scrutinized. For local government autonomy to yield meaningful results, citizens must be informed and actively involved, while the media continues to promote transparency and accountability” Dr. Yahaya stated.
The presentation highlighted the principles of Community-Driven Development (CDD) to include, participation, ownership, accountability, inclusiveness, and transparency as central to sustainable progress at the local level.
It further stressed that effective media engagement helps correct misconceptions, document advocacy outcomes, and build public trust between citizens and government institutions.
According to the report, participants in Jigawa demonstrated strong support for improved local government performance and recognized the media as a vital accountability tool in community governance.
The Executive Director called for deliberate efforts to strengthen strategic media partnerships and enhance citizens’ capacity to engage constructively with local authorities.
He emphasized the need for clear messaging, fact-based reporting, and continuous collaboration with traditional and digital media to influence policy and amplify community development priorities.
Dr. Yahaya recommended integrating media strategies into governance reforms, strengthening media partnerships, and promoting transparency to ensure inclusive and people-centered development across Jigawa’s local councils.
