The Special Adviser to the Kano State Governor on Mobilisation, Hajiya Bilkisu Yakubu Indabo, has announced plans to launch the Government–Civil Society Handshake, a strategic initiative aimed at strengthening collaboration between the Kano State Government and Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) to promote sustainable development and improve public awareness of government programmes.
According to the Special Adviser, the initiative is designed to establish a structured partnership between government institutions and civil society organizations, creating a platform for collaboration in public education, community engagement, transparency and accountability.
She explained that Civil Society Organizations will complement government efforts by conducting public awareness campaigns, mobilising communities, providing advocacy and gathering citizens’ feedback to ensure that government policies and development programmes effectively reach all segments of society, particularly women, young people, persons with disabilities and other vulnerable groups.
Hajiya Bilkisu Indabo noted that the partnership would strengthen communication between government and citizens, enabling residents to better understand the policies, programmes and development projects being implemented by the Kano State Government.
She added that providing timely and accurate information to the public would promote transparency, build trust in government institutions and encourage greater public confidence in governance.
The Special Adviser further stated that the initiative seeks to encourage active community participation in the planning, implementation and monitoring of development projects. She said such participation would foster community ownership, improve service delivery and strengthen accountability at all levels.
She also disclosed that the programme would establish a structured feedback mechanism through which citizens could communicate their concerns, observations and suggestions to government agencies. According to her, this would help identify implementation challenges and support evidence-based policy decisions.
Hajiya Bilkisu Indabo stressed that sustainable development can only be achieved through strong partnerships involving government, civil society organizations, traditional institutions, development partners and local communities working towards shared goals.
She said the Government–Civil Society Handshake would also strengthen the capacity of Civil Society Organizations to serve as effective partners in public education, advocacy and community mobilisation, while creating opportunities for joint monitoring and evaluation of government projects to improve efficiency, transparency and overall impact.
The initiative, she added, is expected to improve public access to information, expand citizens’ participation in governance and ensure that government development interventions deliver measurable benefits to communities across Kano State.
She described the programme as more than a partnership, saying it represents a commitment to building an informed, engaged and empowered citizenry capable of contributing meaningfully to Kano State’s development agenda.
Hajiya Bilkisu Indabo revealed that the official launch date for the Government–Civil Society Handshake would be announced soon.
