Elites Network for Sustainable Development (ENetSuD) is a remarkable civil society organization in Nigeria that has been making waves in its pursuit of good governance, transparency, and accountability. Founded in 2012 by the visionary Dr. Abdullateef Isiaka ALAGBONSI, ENetSuD has been on a mission to create positive change in Kwara State and beyond.
ENetSuD’s Journey and Achievements:
Foundation and Early Years In 2012, Dr. Abdullateef Isiaka ALAGBONSI, alongside a group of passionate young professionals, established ENetSud. Their collective goal was to champion good governance in Kwara State.
Programs and Initiatives ENetSuD has launched several impactful programs aimed at ensuring that public funds serve the citizens’ best interests. These initiatives include budget tracking, advocacy, citizens’ enlightenment, and mobilization.
Championing Transparency ENetSuD’s commitment to transparency led to significant clashes with the government, notably in their legal battle over the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act domestication. This demonstrated their unwavering dedication to transparency and accountability.
Support and Partnerships ENetSuD has garnered support from various sponsors and partners, including esteemed organizations like the Heinrich Böll Foundation, Open Society Initiative for West Africa (OSIWA), and Oxfam Nigeria.
Gobir Foundation Partnership A noteworthy collaboration for ENetSuD was with the Gobir Foundation, which generously donated N26.5 million. This partnership aimed to bolster good governance, transparency, and accountability within the Kwara State government through probity and accountability measures. It particularly focused on enhancing ENetSuD’s Community Empowerment Monitoring Project (CEMP).
Recognition and Awards ENetSuD’s impact extends well beyond Kwara State. In 2018, the organization received the prestigious “Best Civil Society Organization” award from the Kwara State Government. It also gained recognition from other organizations, including the Heinrich Böll Foundation and Open Society Initiative for West Africa (OSIWA), for its contributions to sustainable development.
Citizens’ Enlightenment and Mobilization ENetSuD’s Citizens Enlightenment and Mobilization Program (CEMP) has been instrumental in building a robust network of Kwara citizens committed to holding the government accountable and tracking public fund spending. To reach a broader audience, ENetSud initiated weekly radio programs on Sobi FM 101.9 and Royal FM 95.1, two of Kwara state’s top radio stations. These programs, titled “Ìmójútó Owó Ará Ìlú” (meaning Follow public fund), are delivered in Yoruba with Nupe language translation, reflecting the linguistic diversity of Kwara state.
Empowering Communities ENetSuD actively supports community-based organizations, equipping them with the capacity to demand good governance, transparency, and accountability. Their methods include capacity building, town hall meetings, and fostering financial and technical details, among others.
Programs for Good Governance ENetSuD’s multifaceted approach encompasses budget tracking, advocacy, and citizens’ enlightenment and mobilization. Their Budget Tracking Program ensures the judicious and public-interest-driven use of public funds, while their Advocacy Program strives for policies that promote transparency, accountability, and good governance.
Impacts and Accountability ENetSuD has consistently compelled public institutions to be accountable for taxpayers’ money. They’ve uncovered instances of contract inflation and poorly executed projects, ensuring that the government delivers quality services to its citizens.
Project Tracking by Year ENetSuD has diligently tracked various projects year by year, shedding light on inefficiencies and the need for accountability:
- 2017: ENetSuD monitored 171 Federal Government constituency projects facilitated by Federal lawmakers from Kwara state. They discovered that while most of these projects were eventually executed due to ENetSuD’s vigilance, some suffered from poor execution and inflated contract sums. Approximately 15% of the projects, valued at ₦609,791,120, were challenging to verify in terms of quantity, distribution, and impact on citizens due to the unavailability of beneficiary lists.
- 2018: ENetSuD expanded its tracking efforts, monitoring a whopping 1,042 capital and constituency projects facilitated by Federal lawmakers from Kwara state. These projects had a total contract sum of ₦10,618,000,000.00. ENetSuD’s findings revealed instances of poor execution and project abandonment.
- 2019: ENetSuD continued its vigilance by tracking nearly 500 capital and constituency projects facilitated by Federal lawmakers from Kwara state, with contract sums running into billions of naira.
In May 2022, ENetSuD played a pivotal role in clearing the Kwara State Government of allegations of contract inflation, particularly in the Ilesha Baruba-Gwanara Road project in Baruten Local Government Area.
Their commendation of the government’s efforts in upholding accountability underscored ENetSuD’s commitment to a transparent and accountable government.
