Corps members in Ilorin conducted a sensitization campaign to reveal that most citizens are unaware of their legal right to access information from public and private entities. This initiative highlights a critical gap in public knowledge, despite the FOI Act superseding secrecy laws and empowering citizens to hold institutions accountable. The exercise demonstrates the urgent need to educate the populace about this transparency mechanism. The activity underscores how the FOI Act transforms government operations by removing secrecy and changing record management practices. By informing individuals that public servants are custodians of a public trust, the campaign aims to dismantle the culture of exclusion. This shift is essential for fostering a democratic environment where citizens can effectively engage with the institutions that impact their daily lives. This article is relevant to open data because it identifies the primary barrier to data utilization: public unawareness. Without awareness of the legal right to information, demand for open data remains low. Sensitization drives like this are vital precursors to open data adoption, ensuring that citizens understand how to request and use public information, thereby driving accountability and transparency in governance.
Source:Published on 2023-04-01