Ikot Effiom, Bakassi LGA — Community stakeholders, constituents, and their elected representative, Rt. Hon. Grace E. Bassey, converged on Government Primary School, Ikot Effiom, Ward 7, Bakassi Local Government Area, on Wednesday for a one-day interactive town hall assembly aimed at addressing pressing community needs and strengthening grassroots participation in governance.
The meeting, themed “Championing Community Needs,” brought together residents from the six zones and several villages that make up Ward 7. The session provided an avenue for open dialogue between constituents and their councillor, with participants highlighting issues affecting their communities while receiving direct responses from leaders and stakeholders.
Speaking at the event, Rt. Hon. Grace Bassey, who represents Ward 7 in the 7th Bakassi Legislative Assembly, described the town hall as an opportunity to bridge the gap between leaders and the people. She emphasized the importance of participatory governance, noting that decisions affecting communities are best taken when constituents are carried along.
“We created this space to listen, to learn, and to chart the way forward together. Governance is strongest when it is participatory, when leaders and the people work hand-in-hand to address challenges and seize opportunities,” Bassey said.
Officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) facilitated a session on voter registration, educating residents on civic responsibilities and answering questions from participants. The sensitization exercise also highlighted the importance of active electoral participation as a pathway to ensuring stronger representation.
Beyond electoral education, the assembly served as a platform to collate a database of constituents in preparation for the Federal Government’s forthcoming empowerment scheme. Stakeholders, including community leaders and representatives, took turns to respond to issues raised, ranging from local infrastructure to economic opportunities, thereby enriching the discussions.
Community members commended the initiative, describing it as the first time in years that a structured dialogue of this nature had taken place at the ward level.
The interactive town hall assembly ended with a renewed commitment by stakeholders and constituents alike to sustain the culture of dialogue and collective problem-solving in Ward 7.
