Outgoing Minister of State for Budget and National Planning, Clem Ikanade Agba, Fiscal Responsibility Commission (FRC) felicitates Executive Director of OrderPaper, Oke Epia on his inauguration as a member of the National Steering Committee (NSC) of the Open Government Partnership (OGP)
The outgoing Minister of State for Budget and National Planning, Clem Ikanade Agba, has congratulated the Executive Director of OrderPaper, Oke Epia, on his inauguration as a member of the National Steering Committee (NSC) of the Open Government Partnership (OGP) to drive the implementation of the Nigeria Action Plan (NAP) III.
Agba, who doubles as State Actor/Co-chair of Open Government Partnership (OGP); a global initiative that promotes transparency, citizen participation, and accountability in government, issued the congratulatory message in a letter dated 22nd May 2023 which he personally signed. Nigeria joined the OGP in July 2016 as its 70th member and the National Steering Committee (NSC) which is responsible for formulating policies, overseeing the OGP’s operations and providing guidance and direction to its members is drawn from an equal number of government and non-state actors,
Epia, a development practitioner, public policy advisor and communications specialist, was nominated to the National Steering Committee (NSC) of the Open Government Partnership (OGP) late April, and was inaugurated into the Committee on 25th May 2023.
As contained in a statement issued by the OGP National Secretariat, he was appointed alongside Ms Faith Nwadishi of the Centre for Transparency Advocacy (CTA),Tijah Bolton-Akpan of Policy Alert, Tijani Abdulkareem of Socio-Economic Development and Research Centre (SERDEC), and Olanrewaju Suraj of HEDA Resource Centre. Others also listed as new members joining the NSC are Yakubu Maikyau, National Chairman of the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) and Soji Apampa of The Integrity Organisation.
They join Ms Obialunanma Nnaobi-Ayodele of Meluibe Foundation, Eze Onyekpere of Centre for Social Justice, and Dr Tayo Aduloju, COO of the Nigeria Economic Summit Group (NESG), who are returning members of the Committee.
READ ALSO: OrderPaper Founder, Oke Epia, is Nigeria’s Most Influential Think Tank CEO
Similarly, Victor Muruako, the Executive Chairman of the Fiscal Responsibility Commission (FRC) has felicitated OrderPaper’s Executive Director, Oke Epia on his nomination into the OGP National Steering Committee (NSC).
In a congratulatory letter dated May 10th, the FRC Chair described the nomination as an obvious result of Epia’s hardwork which he personally attests to, as well as discipline with programme details at all times.Muruako further noted that his hunger to effectively deliver on assignments speaks for him at all times, expressing confidence that the NSC nomination is another opportunity to hit the mark as always.
“I have the honour to convey to you the compliments of the Fiscal Responsibility Commission (FRC) and to very heartily congratulate you on your recent nomination into the OGP National Steering Committee (NSC)
This has obviously come as a result of your hardwork which I can always attest to, as well as your discipline with programme details at all times.Your hunger to effectively deliver on your assignment speaks for you at all times and I see your current nomination as another opportunity to hit the mark as always.
I am also speaking from my knowledge of your constituent effort at ensuring Transparency and Accountability in public finance management in our country. I assure you of our continued partnership to continue to strengthen accountability and fiscal responsibility in public finance ecosystem in our country. Please accept the Commssion’s felicitation,” the letter read.
READ ALSO: Policy Alert CEO nominated to OGP National Steering Committee
In his reaction to the nomination, Epia expressed gladness at the opportunity to serve, describing co-creation and collaboration between Government, Civil Society & Private Sector as being at the heart of the Open Government Partnership (OGP).
“Co-creation & collaboration between Government, Civil Society & Private Sector is at the heart of the Open Government Partnership (OGP). Glad to serve in the National Steering Committee (NSC) in Nigeria which was inaugurated yesterday,” he tweeted.
Founder of OrderPaper, a social enterprise and think-tank providing public policy advisory, parliamentary relations, and civic tech services for citizens, corporates, governments and non-governmental organisations in the UK and Nigeria, Epia has garnered over 23 years of both private and public sector experience working in journalism, public communications and media relations roles before delving into public policy and parliamentary practice.
Prior to his nomination, Epia has led the design and implementation of development and policy reform projects funded by international development partners, including the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the United Kingdom Foreign and Commonwealth Development Office (FCDO). Some of these projects include the design and implementation of specially curated policy advocacies, media and communications campaigns, as well as stakeholders’ engagement templates that significantly contributed to the enactment of two critical legislations in Nigeria – the Petroleum Industry Act, 2021; and the Climate Change Act, 2021.
Under his leadership, OrderPaper developed and deployed two novel civic tech tools – RemTrack and ConsTrack – that have been globally recognised and adopted by the Federal Government of Nigeria for tracking Economic and Social Governance (ESG) in Energy; and enabling citizens-led Monitoring and Evaluation of Public Projects, respectively. Following his footprints and impacts in the civic technology space, Epia has been formally recognised as an Exceptional Leader in Digital Technology and consequently accepted into the esteemed and highly competitive UK Global Talent Programme.
