Mrs Abiodun Essiet, the Senior Special Adviser (SSA) to President Bola Tinubu on Community Engagement, says fostering closer ties between government and citizens is the best way to resolve conflicts and socio-economic inequalities in the country.
She said this in a statement issued on Sunday, in reaction to her appointment by the president.
According to her, Nigeria is a multi-cultural country, with rich cultural background, but is bedevilled by several issues, including regional conflicts and socio-economic inequalities.
She said that her role as SSA on community engagement was to create and maintain a two-way dialogue between the administration and communities across the North Central geo-political zone.
This, she said, would ensure that voices were heard and that concerns could be translated into actions by the Federal Government.
While appreciating Tinubu for the opportunity given to her to serve the country, Essiet assured that the appointment would result in impactful democratic administration by the president.
“My approach to community engagement will be through Asset Based Community-led Development (ABCD) and the inclusion of all vulnerable groups in all actions,” she said.
This, according to her, will be through identifying the assets each community has, such as structures, network and human capital to drive the solution to their problems.
She further stated that she would ensure that the eight-point agenda of Mr President aimed at turning around the economy and making life comfortable for all Nigerians became a reality.
Essiet said that the innovativeness of the president to have SSAs on community engagement was a testimony to the fact that he wanted all Nigerians to benefit immensely from his administration, irrespective of their regions or locations.
“President Tinubu is a leader of the masses; he wants things to work out well, especially for those in rural communities.
“I will ensure that our people in the North-Central region of Nigeria feel the impact of President Tinubu’s eight-point agenda.
“The locals should also enjoy the dividends of democracy. We cannot be saying politics is local when the locals are not enjoying their leaders.
“We are here to ensure that the impact of this country is felt in every nook and cranny,” she said.
Essiet is among the 26 aides recently appointed by Tinubu into various offices.
