Internet has become the greatest tool for citizen’s participation in governance – Oby Ezekwesili

Dr. Oby Ezekwesili

Former minister of Education, Oby Ezekwesili, has described the Internet as the greatest tool for citizen’s participation in governance, stressing that with the information superhighway, Nigerians now have a voice to demand and the power to determine the quality of governance they get.

The co-convener of the BringBackOurGirls movement said this at the Nigeria Internet Governance Forum in Abuja recently.

While speaking on the topic, ‘Internet as an Enabler of Accountability and Transparency’, she said governance exists to improve the quality of life and ensure safety and security, using the instrumentality of strong policies with strong and dynamic institutions to promote growth and development.

Continuing, Ezekwesili said, “Without quality governance, it is impossible for a country to develop; the internet is an equaliser and a means of improving capacity.

“It is a tool to use to create the bases for wider participation, engage voices, demand for accountability and define how quickly we get to good governance.

“As growth and development happens, societies become stable and prosperous, the prosperity of society further thrives because as society grows, the citizens grow and this creates a basis for social cohesion.’’

She said the internet had destroyed the barrier of geography and distance that made communication and participation in governance impossible.

The rights activist added that people could be in the remotest areas in Nigeria and still be able to interact with the people in the diaspora.

“The internet has come to disrupt the monopoly of bad governance, and so the main issue is going to be getting the citizens to a place of information literacy,” she added

“Just getting the citizens to a place you have a right to know, you not only have a right to know, you have a voice to demand and the power to determine the quality of governance that is given to you.”