A NEW initiative aimed at strengthening accountability at the grassroots level has been unveiled, with organisers announcing the launch of the Steward Awards to assess and recognise the performance of local government administrations.

The announcement was made at a press briefing in Lagos, where the organisers disclosed that the ceremony will hold on December 5, 2026, with a plan to expand the initiative beyond Lagos after the first edition.

The Head of Media Department, Bolaji Fesomade described the Steward Awards as an independent, non-partisan governance assessment system designed to measure performance using verified data. He said the initiative seeks to shift away from what he called a “pay-to-play” award culture to one built on evidence and transparency.

According to him, the project is coming at a time when Nigeria is witnessing a shift towards greater financial autonomy for local councils, a development expected to increase funds flowing directly to the grassroots.

“To ensure that these resources translate into real development, there must be a system that tracks and verifies what is being done,” he said.

Programme Director, Godfrey Egbuokporo, said the awards will be backed by a structured process that combines technology with physical verification of projects. He explained that the assessment will rely on documented evidence from projects executed by local governments and ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs), supported by field verification.

He added that the initiative is not just about recognition but also about building a culture of data-driven governance.

“We are setting a precedent for knowledge-driven engagement within public service. The process will be backed by evidence from real projects carried out across communities,” he said.

Egbuokporo noted that the awards would be organised in two segments, including a policy forum featuring keynote speeches and discussions on governance and citizen engagement, followed by the award presentation.

He also disclosed that independent auditors and a jury would review and certify all results before they are made public, to ensure credibility.

The governance assessment framework, according to the organisers, includes multiple layers such as an advisory board, a verification team, and an independent jury responsible for validating claims made by public officials.

Members of the Board of Trustees include former Deputy Inspector General of Police, Leye Oyebade (retd), Mr. Alabi Williams, a member of Editorial Borad of The Guardian and Dr Yakub Oshifuye. Businessman, Dr Cosmas Maduka, was also announced as Chairman of the Board at the briefing.

Director of Government Relations, Eva James said the initiative aims to address the lack of visibility around local government activities, noting that governance at the grassroots level often receives limited public scrutiny.

“While there is attention on state and federal activities, local governments remain largely underreported. This initiative is about bringing their performance into public view,” she said.

She disclosed that local governments would participate by submitting details of completed projects for assessment. She added that the process would include community-based verification, allowing residents to provide evidence of projects executed in their areas.

According to her, the model adopts a bottom-up approach that prioritises the real impact of projects on communities rather than official claims alone.

They added that the project is aimed at promoting transparency, accountability, and measurable governance outcomes at the grassroots level.