A REPORT OF THE WORKSHOP ON THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT FACILITATED BY MEMBERS OF THE ABSU LAW CLINIC GROUP 3 AT AHABA-IMENYI WELFARE ASSOCIATION WOMEN’S WING ISUIKWUATO L.G.A ON THE OCCASSION OF THE AHABA-IMENYI WOMEN AUGUST MEETING ON THURSDAY 21ST AUGUST 2014.

1. ANALYSIS:
   The enlightenment workshop with the Ahaba-Imenyi welfare association women’s wing on the occasion of their August meeting was held on Thursday 21^st of August, 2014 at Ahaba-Imenyi town hall Isuikwuato L.G.A, Abia State.
   AIM
   The aim of the workshop as organised by the law clinic under the supervision of our staff clinicians was and has always been to sensitize and acquaint the citizens of Nigeria irrespective of political, economic, cultural or social placement of the existence of the Freedom of Information Act, its role as affects interactions between the masses and the government and/or its agents and also the rights and duties created by the Act. By way of aiding any form of redress sought by the participants at the workshop, the existence of the law clinic is highlighted, coupled with its role in offering pro-bono services to its clients as a means of enhancing access to justice.
   EVENT ANALYSIS
    Armed with knowledge of the aim above mentioned, the group set out to execute its assignment through the instrumentality of the workshop organized with component features to enhance effective sensitization and communication. These features include majorly, a drama piece, brief lecture sessions, feedback from participants and the distribution of copies of the FOI Act and other appurtenant materials written/printed in both English and Igbo languages
   The group arrived at the venue at exactly 1:30pm as were warmly welcomed by the women of the community. After a brief remark by the President General of the Ahaba-Imenyi Welfare Association (Women’s Wing), Dr C.C Ogbonna, the floor was thrown open to the clinic members and to achieve effective communication, Igbo language was used.
   The drama team from the group presented a sizzling piece which portrayed the significance of the Freedom of Information Act to the average Nigerian citizen. During the course of the drama, a civil servant in the local government approached the head of service in the local government to inquire about their salary structure and why they haven’t been paid, only to be humiliated by the head of service and consequently thrown outside the office. Another concerned citizen approached a private construction company utilizing public funds and tried to inquire about a major road in the community whose contract has been awarded and still has not yet been completed, only to be assaulted by thugs and warned never to return asking silly questions again. The third and final character who was a public servant was laid off for revealing a public document to a concerned citizen. At the climax, an enlightened citizen step in and tells they aggrieved citizens about the existence of the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and its many benefits. They were also introduced to the Absu law clinic as a place where many of their questions can be answered and advocacy granted free of charge. Finally, they aggrieved citizens became happy with the information they received as they could see the glimmer of hope once again.
   Subsequently, the group lectured on;
   1.     The background of Freedom of Information Act (FOIA)
   2.     Explained the salient features of the FOIA
   3.     The overview of the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA)
   4. Demonstrated how the FOIA can serve as a tool for promotion of good governance
   5.     Explained the exemption provisions and the redress mechanism in the FOIA.
   The series of events occasioned the distribution of flyers and copies of the FOI Act 2011, both in English and Igbo versions, to the eager women to facilitate the objectives of the workshop.
   Before departure, the team was joined by one of our staff clinicians in the person of Barr. Emeka Okoroafor who helped us round up the presentations, with a reiteration on the FOI Act’s history, its role and the need for the masses to accept and adopt it as a tool to facilitate the enthronement of accountability, good governance and participatory governance.
   In response, the President General of the Ahaba-Imenyi Welfare Association (Women’s wing), thanked the clinicians immensely for making out time to visit the women and sensitize them on the FOI Act. She, together with other members of her Exco expressed deep hopes that with the continued spread of information on the existence and role of the Act, the society would grow to become the better for it.
   They finally promised to visit the law clinic and also direct any aggrieved individual to the clinic to seek legal redress. With our task thus executed, the team set out on its journey back to the university
   CONCLUSION/RECOMMENDATION
   Ajala Promise .A, on behalf of the members of group 3 of the ABSU law clinic hereby expresses profound gratitude to NULAI, Clinic coordinators and every other person that was instrumental to the success of this workshop for giving us the opportunity to serve in this capacity and hope that:
   1.     The faculty, through the law clinic should further train it’s students to participate actively in street law programmes
   2.     The law clinic should provide more materials as a teaching resource for subsequent workshops.
   3.     That follow up activities to areas of outreach should be encouraged.
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