Nigerians have been advised to get to know more about government policies and programmes.
The challenge was given at the 11th edition of the Independence Day programme, the Platform, where some of the speakers x-rayed governance issues in the country.
Host of the yearly event, Poju Oyemade of the Covenant Christian Centre urged Nigerians to know, follow and above all participate in the governance of the nation, rather than let the rot and decay in the society overwhelm their person and identity.
‘The platform really is designed to be an educational platform, we believe in a democracy, that is in a democratic system of government, the most important part of that system is the participation of the civil populace in the art of governance
‘And that power of the power of the populace is determined by how educated and how informed they are’
He emphasized that though formal education is essential but the education and formality he referred to is that kind of education that allows one to participate actively in the governance of the system and effecting of change in the system within the legal framework of the society.
‘And when we talk about education, we don’t just speak about formal education, even though that is foundational, but being educated and informed about how they can effectively participate in governance, understanding how to effect changes within the legal framework of a society, understanding the institutions and how they work
“Also we believe that people also understand how to learn from history and therefore have a basis to interprete what is going within their environment at a particular point in time”
The Pastor and founder, Convent Christian Centre, Poju Oyemade which started the Platform hinted that it is the lacuna that has been there that prompted the launch of the programme 7 years ago to help Nigerians in the development of the Nation.
‘So the purpose of the platform is to fill the knowledge gap, to be in place where that kind of knowledge and information will be shared and made available to the general populace in a way that is accessible to every single person
‘We believe that the real genius is the direct involvement of people in governance’