“If government isn’t interested in listening to citizens in the 1st place, internet, open data, etc. won’t change this.”
How does an online city influence what is happening on the ground? Can the internet connect citizens with decision makers? And, can this connection result in an improved city and quality of life for citizens? We review responses from our participants who participated in July’s #OCLchat.
by Olamide Udoma
Recently Lagos has seen itself manifested online through the voices and images of city dwellers and visitors alike. It is therefore pertinent to discuss if and how an online city can affect what is happening on the ground. As part of the #OpenCityLagos project, in July we held #OCLchat on Twitter, to discuss the effects social media can have on a city. (Read the preview here).
Within the hour discussion six questions, with a focus as Lagos as an online city, were asked and answers came from all over the globe with opinions and examples of technology, citizenship, and the urban development of Lagos.
The one hour tweetchat lead to break away discussion on technology being an enhancer and not a solution. Therefore the emphasis should be on creating a sustainable and people centred governance and administrative system that is supplemented by technology. Other conversation included a discussion on online governance where decisions are made within 140 characters, if this is effective or not.
One of the highlights of the chat was the realisation that the majority of Nigerians are not tech savy. Therefore, even though with technology advances and the growth of affordable smartphones there is still a majority of the population offline.
Below are some tweets that spurred on the conversation (For more read the Storify or search for #OCLchat on Twitter and do not forget you can still join the conversation using #OCLchat).
@FutureLagos @ChristineDV @clara_aden @snapitoga @Drkems @NsibidiInst A1 Yes, in terms of its accessibility through technology #OCLchat
— Adeola (@mineadeby) July 11, 2015
A1. You can have an open city without #technology – depends on your definition of "open" 🙂 #OCLchat
— Victoria Okoye (@victoria_okoye) July 11, 2015
@FutureLagos A2. Absolutely , both through information, education and platforms #OCLchat
— Rashiq Fataar (@RashiqFataar) July 11, 2015
@FutureLagos The Internet is a powerful tool in making urban development and change more transparent & accessible…#OCLchat
— Future Cape Town (@futurecapetown) July 11, 2015
…but we must ask ourselves how can those without internet access make be heard? How can the city itself be a platform?#OCLchat
— Future Cape Town (@futurecapetown) July 11, 2015
In Accra, so many diff constituencies, and not all are internet, tech savvy. Must reach out in diff ways #OCLchat https://t.co/pR4Axrbawa
— Victoria Okoye (@victoria_okoye) July 11, 2015
@FutureLagos By smartly connecting both. Use Internet to promote/ raise awareness. Use 'real world' to work, engage, build. #OCLchat
— Fabienne Hoelzel (@FabienneHoelzel) July 11, 2015
@FutureLagos A3 By passing the required message effectively across to the decision makers involved in bringing such to reality #OCLchat
— Adeola (@mineadeby) July 11, 2015
A4 #OccupyNigeria protests – crowdsourcing information, resources #OCLchat @FutureLagos
— African Urbanism (@africanurbanism) July 11, 2015
A4. Recent floods in Accra: Ppl, organizations, govt shared info, warnings using social media + other channels #OCLchat @FutureLagos
— Victoria Okoye (@victoria_okoye) July 11, 2015
@FutureLagos A 4 I believe #bringbackourgirls can be a good example but didn't result in success. #oclChat
— Snap It Oga (@snapitoga) July 11, 2015
@FutureLagos An online petition to stop the redevelopment of Tempelhof airport in Berlin comes to mind #OCLchat
— 'kolade (@k_ld) July 11, 2015
Q5 What mechanism can help politicians become more responsive to citizens? #OCLchat
— Future Lagos (@FutureLagos) July 11, 2015
A5. Good question. I'm not sure how, but I bet successful example would encourage two-way dialogue + offline, on-the-ground action #OCLchat
— Victoria Okoye (@victoria_okoye) July 11, 2015
@FutureLagos A5 Accountability + transparency=democracy. (Re) election due to capacity + achievement. Strengthen local government! #OCLchat
— Fabienne Hoelzel (@FabienneHoelzel) July 11, 2015
@FutureLagos A5 Dialogues, through interest groups, associations or community/public representatives #OCLchat
— Adeola (@mineadeby) July 11, 2015
Q6 Do we need scientifically trained political decision makers? #OCLchat
— Future Lagos (@FutureLagos) July 11, 2015
A6 Enough can't be said of putting appropriately-skilled people in the right positions if a govt. is serious about impacting lives #OCLchat
— Derin Ajao (@theveryderin) July 11, 2015
@FutureLagos Not at all. See Jane Jacobs #OCLchat
— Lagos Urbanism (@BYUrbanism) July 11, 2015
@FutureLagos A6 Education=seed/ beginning of most if not all.Politicians need poli'cal thinking,will,integrity. Politics≠business!! #OCLchat
— Fabienne Hoelzel (@FabienneHoelzel) July 11, 2015
Thank you for contributing to the start of a great discussion & please feel free to continue the conversation using #OCLchat
— Future Lagos (@FutureLagos) July 11, 2015