JDPC Nnewi Forges Key Academic Partnership to Boost Local Governance Accountability in Anambra

 



By: O'star Eze 


In a strategic move to infuse psychological insights into grassroots governance reforms, the Justice Development and Peace Commission (JDPC) Nnewi, a faith-based NGO under the Catholic Diocese of Nnewi, has initiated a groundbreaking collaboration with the Department of Psychology at Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK), Awka. 


The partnership, announced following an advocacy visit on September 18, 2025, aims to empower community leaders to drive transparency and citizen engagement at the local government level through the Anambra Local Government Accountability Fellowship (ALGAF).


The ALGAF project, funded by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) with technical support from the Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room, is an eight-month governance fellowship designed to strengthen the local government system in Anambra State. As a core component of JDPC Nnewi's broader mission to promote justice, development, and peace, the initiative targets 45 Civic Change Agents; 15 from each of Anambra's three senatorial zones, prioritizing inclusive representation for young women, persons with disabilities, and other marginalized groups.


"ALGAF is about bridging the gap between citizens and their local governments," said Onyekachi Ololo, team lead for the ALGAF Project at JDPC Nnewi. "We're training these community leaders in public policy processes, financial analysis, and digital governance tools so they can sensitize residents on civic roles, scrutinize local budgets, publish accountability reports, and hold officials responsible. The ultimate goal is to foster more open, responsive local governments that deliver essential services to the people."


During the advocacy visit to Prof. Chidozie E. Nwafor, Head of the Department of Psychology at UNIZIK, the ALGAF team presented the fellowship's framework, which includes training and mentoring participants to interrogate local government efficiency, raise citizen awareness on roles and accountability, and develop a sustainable model for citizen-local government interaction. The program will culminate in a Local Government Accountability Summit, where fellows will unveil findings, recommendations, and a replicable development framework.


Prof. Nwafor, a renowned expert in developmental psychology with a focus on child and adolescent development, warmly commended the initiative's timeliness amid ongoing calls for grassroots governance reforms in Anambra. Drawing from his department's experience in a MasterCard-supported youth empowerment project, he advocated for embedding "mindset inoculation" therapy into ALGAF to overcome resistance to change and promote lasting behavioral shifts.


Central to his recommendations was the KAP (Knowledge-Attitude-Practice) Model, which he described as essential for tackling Nigeria's governance challenges. 


"Knowledge gaps mean citizens and even local officials are unaware of LG functions; attitudes of apathy stem from years of neglect; and dysfunctional practices fail to enforce civic values," Prof. Nwafor explained. 


He urged ALGAF to structure its evaluation around these pillars to ensure measurable impact.


Prof. Nwafor also introduced the department's proprietary BCE Leadership Framework; Bridging Communication (to enhance citizen-LG engagement channels), Contingency (to establish fair reward systems for productivity), and Evocative Orientation (for leaders to model integrity), recommending its integration into ALGAF's leadership workshops. 


He further stressed the need for robust monitoring and evaluation (M&E) mechanisms, aligning the fellowship's outcomes with state-led efforts like the "Anambra Rebirth" mindset program under the Commissioner for Information, to secure donor confidence and policy buy-in.


Rev. Fr. Ben Chima Okolo, Director of JDPC Nnewi, hailed the engagement as a pivotal step in the organization's long-standing commitment to citizen empowerment, building on initiatives like the "My Local Government Project" (MYLGA). "By partnering with academia, we're not just training leaders; we're transforming mindsets to make local governance work for the people," Fr. Okolo stated.




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