The Wura Hope Women Initiative (WHWI), with support from the PROMAD Foundation through its Microgrant Programme, has successfully convened the Community Accountability Lab (CAL): Youth and Women Civic Dialogue aimed at strengthening accountability, citizen participation, and community-driven development in Kwara State.
The dialogue, held at the International Conference Centre, Kwara State University (KWASU), Malete, brought together women, youth leaders, students, and community representatives from different parts of the state to engage in discussions on governance challenges, accountability, and community development priorities.
The initiative forms part of WHWI’s ongoing efforts to promote active citizenship, strengthen community voice, and create platforms that enable citizens to participate meaningfully in governance and development processes.
Facilitating a session on Accountability and Active Citizenship, governance advocate, Mr. Salaudeen Ishola, emphasised the importance of citizen engagement in strengthening good governance and sustainable development.
According to him, accountability thrives when citizens understand their rights, responsibilities, and role in ensuring that public institutions remain responsive to community needs.
He encouraged participants to engage constructively with public office holders, demand transparency, monitor service delivery, and contribute positively to governance processes within their communities.
The dialogue also featured a session on Open Government and Participatory Community Needs Mapping facilitated by civic technology advocate, Habeeb Opeyemi Daranijo.
Participants were introduced to practical tools for identifying, documenting, and prioritising community concerns through the Isunawa platform, a citizen engagement tool designed to support evidence-based advocacy, stakeholder engagement, and development planning.
A major highlight of the event was the Isunawa Community Voice and Priority Mapping Exercise, during which participants identified key issues affecting their communities and proposed practical recommendations for addressing them.
Issues highlighted by participants included access to quality healthcare, education, youth unemployment, economic opportunities, infrastructure deficits, community security, public service delivery, and women’s inclusion in decision-making processes.
The highly interactive nature of the dialogue enabled participants to share lived experiences, contribute local perspectives, and collectively identify priority concerns requiring the attention of government institutions, development actors, and community stakeholders.
Speaking during the event, Executive Director of The Wura Hope Women Initiative, Rasheed Adeniyi Yusuf, described the Community Accountability Lab as an important platform for strengthening civic consciousness, accountability, and citizen participation.
He noted that sustainable development is strengthened when communities are equipped not only with information but also with the confidence, skills, and platforms needed to engage constructively in governance and accountability processes.
Yusuf commended the PROMAD Foundation for supporting the initiative and creating opportunities for women and young people to participate in conversations that affect their communities and future.
According to him, the Community Accountability Lab reflects WHWI’s commitment to promoting accountability, amplifying community voice, and strengthening citizen engagement through learning, dialogue, and collaborative problem-solving.
He added that the insights generated during the dialogue would contribute to future community engagement activities, advocacy initiatives, and accountability actions aimed at improving governance and development outcomes across participating communities.
Participants described the engagement as insightful, practical, and empowering, noting that it enhanced their understanding of accountability, civic responsibility, and the role citizens can play in influencing positive change within their communities.
The Community Accountability Lab is expected to support ongoing citizen engagement efforts and contribute to stronger community participation in governance and development initiatives across Kwara State.
About The Wura Hope Women Initiative (WHWI)
The Wura Hope Women Initiative (WHWI) is a civic and development organisation building accountability infrastructure that transforms women’s voices into organised influence, strengthens citizen participation, and promotes responsive local governance.
WHWI works at the intersection of governance, accountability, women’s participation, and community development through a unique ecosystem of networks, learning platforms, evidence generation, and civic engagement initiatives. Its flagship platforms include the Women Accountability Network (WAN), the Strengthening Women’s Participation in Local Governance (SWiLG) Project, and the Community Accountability Lab.
By connecting communities, generating locally informed evidence, and creating platforms for constructive citizen-government engagement, WHWI is helping to build more accountable institutions, stronger communities, and more inclusive development outcomes.
Media Contact
Rasheed Adeniyi Yusuf
Founder & Executive Director
The Wura Hope Women Initiative (WHWI)
Email: info@wurahope.org
Website: www.wurahope.org
Phone: +234 703 768 3872
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