By Cristabel Adewole
The Founder and Executive Director of Promad Infotech Foundation, Mr. Diasi Omokungbe, has called for increased youth participation in governance and accountability processes, warning that limited youth involvement continues to affect Nigeria’s development.
He made the call during the public presentation of the Promad Ondo State Report, held on Wednesday, November 6, 2025, at Royal Birds Hotel and Towers, Alagbaka, Akure.
In his address, the Promad boss emphasised the importance of youth engagement in governance, media, and capital channels, stating that accountability and transparency remain essential for Ondo State’s growth and development.
He disclosed that Promad had tracked 65 projects across the 18 Local Government Areas of the State, out of which 26 were ongoing, 12 delayed, and another 12 abandoned.
According to him, the completed projects cut across critical sectors such as health, education, water and sanitation, road construction, and energy infrastructure.
Mr. Omokungbe attributed the challenges facing project delivery to technical difficulties, capacity gaps, the employment of untrained personnel, time constraints, and limited access to public information.
He warned that poor monitoring and quality control could lead to infrastructure damage, incomplete execution, or deterioration shortly after completion.
He appreciated both the Federal and State Governments for funding the initiative and revealed that Promad was already addressing technical issues that had prevented some contractors from completing their projects.
Mr. Omokungbe recommended the introduction of a Social Accountability Fellowship (SAF) to empower citizens, especially young people to monitor public projects and ensure the validation of citizen-generated data by Budget and Planning agencies.
He said this would strengthen policy influence and promote good governance across Ondo State.
Reaffirming Promad Foundation’s commitment to promoting transparency, citizen participation, and social accountability in Nigeria, he disclosed plans to introduce a data-driven project powered by Artificial Intelligence (AI) to build capacity in data analysis and empower youths in the State’s development and naira value portfolio.
Also speaking at the event, Promad’s Programme Officer and lawyer, Mr. Emmanuel Sani, called for the inclusion of women and persons with disabilities in the accountability process.
He further urged the judiciary to enforce the SOS 2011 Act to create awareness among young people about the limitations they face in governance, adding that inclusive participation would strengthen Nigeria’s democratic values and accountability system.
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