A new governance accountability initiative that uses data analytics, field verification and citizen reporting to assess local government performance has been launched in Lagos, as Nigeria expands scrutiny over how public funds are spent at the grassroots level.
The initiative, known as the Steward Awards, introduces a digital verification platform designed to independently track, validate and rank the delivery of public projects executed by local governments and selected state ministries, departments and agencies.
Organisers told reporters in Lagos that the system is intended to address long-standing concerns around transparency, visibility and impact assessment of projects carried out at the local level, particularly at a time when local governments have gained increased financial autonomy and now directly receive larger statutory allocations.
Speaking at the launch, Director of Government Relations for the Steward Awards project, Eva James, said the platform was created to ensure that governance outcomes at the grassroots are not only executed but also independently verified and made visible to the public.
“Now that local governments have financial autonomy and are in charge of billions of naira in allocations, it becomes pertinent that the grassroots understand how that money is being expended,” James said.
The executive argued that while some local government administrations execute impactful projects, a lack of structured visibility often means such efforts go unnoticed, while in other cases, poorly prioritised or low-impact projects dominate public attention.
“Some are actually working in silence and doing big projects, but nobody knows what they are doing, while some are not even working at all; they only make noise and blow their trumpets,” James noted. “There are also some that do projects for the sake of doing projects, not necessarily those that meet the pressing needs of communities.”
James said the Steward Awards seeks to correct this imbalance by shifting from perception-based recognition to evidence-based evaluation, using a combination of digital submissions and physical verification.
According to the executive, citizens will play a central role in the process by submitting evidence such as photos, testimonies and feedback on projects executed within their communities through a dedicated digital platform.
“We will conduct community-based verification and deploy digital tools for citizens to submit supporting evidence and testimonies of projects being done in their areas and also vote,” James said. “By the time we verify submissions, it will clearly show the real impact on people’s lives.”
The organiser added that the nomination process will be strictly grassroots-driven, removing financial barriers or entry fees typically associated with awards systems.
“No one pays to be nominated or awarded. It is the people in the community that will nominate leaders because they feel what has been done is worth recognition.”
The head of media for the project, Bolaji Fesomade, said the Steward Awards are designed as an independent, non-partisan governance assessment framework that relies on measurable performance indicators rather than political narratives.
He said the initiative is responding to a governance environment where local councils are now managing significantly larger budgets, making structured performance tracking necessary.
“To ensure that these resources translate into real development, there must be a system that tracks and verifies what is being done,” Fesomade said.
He disclosed that the project will begin with an assessment of the 57 local government areas in Lagos State before expanding nationally. According to him, the long-term goal is to establish a national benchmark for evaluating public sector delivery at the grassroots level.
Programme Director Godfrey Egbuokporo said the evaluation model will combine technology-driven data collection with physical inspections conducted by field monitors who will verify projects on-site across communities.
He explained that the assessment framework will also include independent auditors and a jury panel responsible for validating results before they are published in order to ensure credibility and reduce bias.
“We are setting a precedent for knowledge-driven governance assessment,” he said. “The process is backed by evidence from real projects and independent verification mechanisms.”
Egbuokporo said the awards process will be structured into two main segments, including a policy forum that will feature discussions on governance, public accountability and citizen engagement, followed by an awards ceremony recognising high-performing officials.
He added that the inaugural edition of the Steward Awards is scheduled for 5 December 2026.
The initiative also includes a governance oversight structure featuring a Board of Trustees drawn from public and private sector leaders, including former Deputy Inspector General of Police Leye Oyebade (retd); businessman Cosmas Maduka; and media and policy experts such as Alabi Williams and Dr Yakub Oshifuye.
Organisers said the combination of digital tracking tools, citizen reporting and independent verification is intended to create a new standard for measuring governance performance in Nigeria, particularly at the local government level where oversight has traditionally been weaker.
They added that the platform aims to shift governance recognition away from perception and publicity towards measurable outcomes and verified community impact.
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