Kogi State Government has advocated for closer collaboration with civil society groups in the state to enhance inclusive development and participatory governance.

The Special Adviser on Media to the State Governor, Hon. Ismaila Isah, stated this during the 5th Annual General Meeting of the Kogi NGO Network (KONGONET) in Lokoja.

The meeting, themed; “Synergy for Socio-Economic Development: Uniting State and Non-State Actors for Greater Impact,” brought together key players from the civic space and public institutions.

Hon. Isah who was the guest speaker at the occasion stressed vital role NGOs play in complementing government efforts, especially in underserved communities and shared his personal experience as the co-founder of the Corps De Progressives, a grassroots initiative that has offered free tutorials, scholarships, and UTME sponsorships to students in Kogi Central in the last 25 years.

According to him, such experience demonstrates how non-state actors can reach areas where government interventions may be limited.

He described NGOs as “flexible, trusted, and deeply rooted in communities,” adding that their contributions are crucial to sustainable development.

Isah also reaffirmed Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo’s commitment to open governance through mechanisms such as the Open Government Partnership (OGP) which allows for greater public involvement in planning and budgeting, helping to foster transparency and accountability in governance.

“Government holds the power, civil society holds the access. Both must work together,” he stressed, adding that NGOs need to view themselves as co-creators in the governance process, rather than as critics.

Earlier, the outgoing Chairperson of KONGONET, Amb. Idris Ozovehe Muraina had commended the growing collaboration between civil society and the state government, citing KONGONET’s contributions to the Kogi State Development Plan (2024–2056) as an example of constructive partnership.

“Democracy works best when government and civil society work with the people, not just for them,” he said while urging the new leadership of KONGONET to sustain the momentum and deepen engagement with state actors.

The event also featured award presentations to ministries, agencies and individuals for outstanding collaboration with NGOs in the state.