LAPO advocates inclusive governance, citizen-centered development

The Lift Above Poverty Organisation (LAPO) has called for a more inclusive and participatory system of governance in which citizens’ voices are prioritized in policy formulation and implementation to foster a more effective and equitable Nigeria.

LAPO, a pro-poor community development organization founded in 1987 by Dr. Eseiwi Ehigiamusoe, continues to champion initiatives that promote social inclusion, advocacy, microfinance, and health interventions for underserved populations.

During the 32nd Annual LAPO Development Forum,themed “Citizens Engagement and Responsive Governance for National Development”,held in Abuja, speakers and participants underscored the urgent need for governance that listens, learns, and acts in response to citizens needs.

Delivering a goodwill message, the Chairman of the Occasion, Senator Ita Solomon Enang emphasized that true democratic strength lies not in those who temporarily hold power, but in the collective will of the people. He reminded leaders that political power is transient and must be exercised with humility, accountability, and respect for the constitution.

“The power of the people is stronger, more powerful, and more potent than the people in power,”
“Those in authority must remember that before you came to power, others were there. If you want to understand leadership, look at what those before you are going through today.” He declared .

The senator cautioned that those who misuse authority will eventually account for their actions, stressing that “time does not run against the state, and time does not run against crime.”

Enang also lamented the increasing trend among young Nigerians who view politics as a means of enrichment rather than an opportunity for service.

“Getting into government was not, and is not, an opportunity to make money,”
“It is for those who can already sustain their homes and families to offer service to society to make it better for their children and future generations.”he said.

He urged for a deep moral and mental reorientation, calling on both young and old to rediscover the essence of leadership as responsibility, not privilege.

“Power is not meant to enrich oneself; it is meant to uplift others,we must rediscover the dignity of responsibility and humility of leadership if we are to rebuild trust in governance.” Enang added.

Stressing the need for accountability across all levels of government, the senator noted that most cases of financial mismanagement occur at the subnational level.

“Government is not just about the central government,”
“The greater amount of money unaccounted for in this country is at the state and local levels.” He stressed.

He further urged leaders to conduct proper needs assessments before executing projects, commending states that involve communities in planning, budgeting, and development decisions.
“Don’t just build what you think people need. Engage them that is what needs assessment means,” he advised.

In his address,Dr. Ike Neliaku,President and Chairman of Council, Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), defined responsive governance as one that listens, learns, and acts in citizens’ best interests.

“Responsive governance treats citizens not as subjects to be managed, but as partners in progress,” he stated.

Dr. Neliaku emphasized that citizen engagement is fundamental to democracy and sustainable development.

“When citizens are excluded, development becomes directionless. But when they are engaged through dialogue and accountability, national progress becomes a shared achievement,” he noted.

He further revealed the importance of effective public communication in bridging the gap between leadership intentions and citizens’ understanding.
“Public communication converts policy into participation and reforms into results,” he said, adding that trust built through honest communication is ,the most valuable currency of democracy.”

According to Neliaku, citizen engagement should go beyond consultation to co-creation,allowing citizens to shape policies and enhance ownership of outcomes.
“The people must not be an afterthought; they must be the starting point,”
“LAPO listens to communities, understands citizens’ realities, and crafts solutions that work with people, not just for them.” He emphasized commending LAPO for its human-centered approach.

In her remarks, Barr. (Mrs.) Faith Negbe Osazuwa President of LAPO, highlighted the organization’s ongoing commitment to poverty reduction through financial inclusion, healthcare, and empowerment initiatives.

“From inception in 1987, LAPO has addressed poverty through a multifaceted approach,our institutions including LAPO Microfinance Bank, Micro Investment Support Services, LAPO Institute for Microfinance and Management Studies, and Benin Medical Care Centre provide access to finance, healthcare, and socio-economic empowerment.” She said .

She disclosed that between January 2024 and September 2025, LAPO Microfinance Bank disbursed over ₦942.6 billion to 718,363 clients,while 301,944 individuals were empowered in the agricultural value chain with loans totaling ₦61.09 billion.

During the same period, 320,560 persons received free health services, including screenings for blood pressure, diabetes, cholesterol, malaria, and retroviral infections.

“Health interventions are pivotal to our poverty alleviation strategy,” adding that LAPO continues to promote maternal and child health, cancer awareness, and environmental hygiene. she explained

Osazuwa reaffirmed that this year’s theme Citizen Engagement and Responsive Governance for National Development reflects LAPO’s vision for a participatory development process.

“Nigeria urgently requires a culture of active questioning and participation where community voices are deliberately considered in policymaking,” she said.

She noted LAPO’s advocacy for inclusive development, gender equity, community healthcare, food security, SME growth, and rural development across Nigeria and West Africa.

Delivering the keynote lecture, Dr. Otive Igbuzor,Founding Executive Director of the African Centre for Leadership, Strategy and Development and former Country Director of ActionAid Nigeria, presented a comprehensive roadmap for embedding citizen participation in governance.

He called for participatory budgeting, integration of civic principles into the National Development Plan, and protection of civil liberties to expand civic space.

“Citizen engagement must be institutionalized through deliberate reforms that make participation meaningful, not symbolic,” he said.

Dr. Igbuzor also advocated the use of digital technologies for transparency and real-time feedback between citizens and policymakers, as well as civic education to nurture informed participation.

He proposed social accountability mechanisms such as social audits, open contracting, and citizen report cards to hold public officials accountable.

“Responsive governance must listen to citizens and act on their concerns,”
“It must deliver services fairly, provide timely information, and remain open to scrutiny.” He stated.

Concluding, he noted that citizen engagement is not a democratic luxury but a national necessity,Sustainable development, he said, can only be achieved through institutional reform and active citizen participation.

A communique issued at the end of the LAPO Head of Corporate Communications and Chairman, Nigerian Institute of Public Relations, Edo State Chapter, James Wisdom Abhulimen affirmed that active citizen engagement is essential for democracy and sustainable national development.

It called for institutionalizing participatory governance through legal frameworks that promote participatory budgeting, open contracting, and community dialogues. It also stressed the need for sustained civic education to empower citizens to engage responsibly.

The document highlighted the role of technology and open data in promoting transparency, while identifying corruption and weak institutions as major barriers to good governance.

The communique also decried apathy among the educated elite and called for greater political participation by professionals and civil society actors.

the communique reaffirmed the commitment to building a participatory, transparent, and accountable governance culture as foundational to Nigeria’s sustainable development.

LAPO’s nearly four decades of impactful work in poverty reduction and empowerment were celebrated as a model of responsive, citizen-driven development.