Continuing with its on-going public enlightenment campaign on the Freedom of Information (FOIA) 2011, The Right to Know Initiative (R2K) and the Open Society Justice Initiative, with support from the Open Society Initiative for West Africa (OSIWA), has today, released the translation of the FOI Act into two other major Nigerian languages, Yoruba and Igbo.

This is part of its series of local Nigerian languages text of the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) 2011 and related information, education and communication publications.
 
The project, which commenced with the translation of the FOI Act into Hausa language, includes the translation of the FOI Act and 2 publications on the Act developed by R2K, namely: Understanding the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) 2011; and 23 Reasons for the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) 2011.
 
The FOI Act facilitates prospects of ensuring public participation in governance in keeping with the provisions of Section 14(1) and (2) of the 1999 Constitution which declare that sovereignty belongs to the people of Nigeria from whom government derives its powers, and that participation by the people in their government shall be ensured.
 
Maxwell Kadiri, Associate Legal Officer, the Justice Initiative’s Africa Program affirms that, “The foundation of a democratic state is the capacity of its people to participate fully in its governance. The concept of public participation in governance is not simply a utopia; but rather one which is realisable when the public can engage with government from an informed position. The FOI Act has the potential for engendering the practice of democracy and social justice in Nigeria’s public space.”
 
In line with the recognition that Sections 3 (3) and (4) of the Freedom of Information Act provide, to the effect that all people – including those who may face a literacy challenge – have the right to access information, the translation exercise is aimed at ensuring proper education of grassroots communities on the principles, contents and utility of the FOI law.
 
Ene Enonche, National Coordinator, R2K states that, “the Act cannot be properly implemented if people are not even aware of their right to know and do not understand the law. This is why we have undertaken “the WaZoBia” of the FOIA, to spread the message of FOI to uncharted frontiers, as a starting point for ensuring that all Nigerians are equipped to enjoy this fundamental right”.
 
The materials are for widespread dissemination, especially in communities where such local languages remain the dominant means of communication.

Click on the links below to view/download they documents;

Understanding the FOIA (Igbo Version)

Understanding the FOIA (Yoruba Version)

23 Reasons for FOIA (Igbo Version)

23 Reasons for FOIA (Yoruba version)

FOIA (Igbo Version)

FOIA (Yoruba Version)