Kole Shettima, the Africa Director of the MacArthur Foundation, has stressed the critical importance of accountability in governance for transparent and responsible leadership.
Speaking at Daria Media’s “The First Year” Event Reviews of President Bola Tinubu’s First anniversary”, Shettima emphasized the foundation’s commitment to ensuring accountability in Nigeria by supporting both government institutions and civil society organisations.
“We are very happy to support this programme,” Shettima said. “The foundation is committed to ensuring accountability in our country. We do this by supporting both government institutions and civil society organisations.”
The live television event, held on July 17 and 18, 2024, was a collaboration between Daria Media, the MacArthur Foundation, and TVC News.
The two-day event focused on assessing the economy and security during President Tinubu’s first year in office, drawing significant public interest and participation.
On the first day, a panel of experts discussed the state of Nigeria’s economy, addressing critical issues such as economic growth, inflation, and employment.
Paul Alaje, Chief Economist at SPM Professionals, highlighted the importance of inclusion in national development.
“We cannot say we are building a robust nation without including critical stakeholders. We must demonstrate that we are one nation by including persons with disabilities because they are critical stakeholders,” Alaje stated.
The second day centered on security and governance, with experts including Brig. Gen. S.K. Usman, former Director of Army Public Relations, evaluating the administration’s efforts to tackle security challenges.
General Usman pointed out the root causes of insecurity, noting that “in most instances, non-state actors are just filling a vacuum, and that’s why there are all the manifestations of security challenges that we have.”
The event was well-attended, with active participation from the studio audience and viewers across the country. It was broadcast on multiple platforms, including TVC News, FRCN, Radio Now 95.3FM Lagos, WFM 91.7, and streamed on all of Daria Media’s social media platforms.
Despite the success of the event, virtually all invited government ministers and officials canceled their attendance at the last minute. Kadaria Ahmed, CEO of Daria Media Limited, expressed disappointment at their absence, emphasizing the importance of government officials engaging with Nigerians on credible and independent platforms.
She reaffirmed Daria Media’s commitment to deepening democracy by facilitating informed conversations between citizens and the government on critical national issues. “The First Year” event, she noted, is a testament to this dedication.
This is the second time Daria Media has hosted “The First Year.” The inaugural event in 2016 featured discussions with government officials, including then Minister of Information Lai Mohammed and Minister of Finance Kemi Adeosun, on the first year of the Buhari Administration.
Babaji Usman Babaji is an investigative journalist with over four years of experience, renowned for his impactful reporting on corruption, human rights violations, and holding those in power accountable in Nigeria.
His career is distinguished by participation in numerous media training programs and conferences, which have honed his investigative and reporting skills. Babaji’s data-driven stories have made a significant impact, particularly in Northern Nigeria, shedding light on critical issues and driving meaningful change.
As a reporter under WikkiTimes’ Collaborative Media (CMEDIA) Project, Babaji has led several groundbreaking investigations. He was a 2022 fellow of the Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID) and a 2024 Media Foundation for West Africa DPI/DPG fellow. His contributions to accountability journalism earned him a Certificate of Recognition from Xchange Hama Media for impactful community work.
