From Umar Dankano, Yola
The European Union (EU), in partnership with Oxfam and the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), has trained 17 local government officials from Adamawa and Borno states on digital budgeting and financial management.
The six-day capacity-building training, held in Yola, focused on basic Microsoft Excel skills to improve budget preparation, implementation, monitoring and evaluation.
The programme was organised under a project titled Support to Improving Social Cohesion through Community Development Planning in Three Local Government Areas in Northeast Nigeria.
Speaking at the opening session, Oxfam Country Director, Tijani Hamza, said the initiative was designed to help local government administrations transition from manual financial management processes to digital, data-driven systems that promote transparency, accuracy and accountability.
Hamza, represented by the Project Coordinator, Samuel Lashom, urged participants to take the training seriously and apply the skills acquired to their professional responsibilities.
He emphasised that accurate financial records, transparency and accountability were essential to strengthening public trust and improving the monitoring of Community Development Plans (CDPs) across the participating local government areas.
According to Hamza, adopting Microsoft Excel and other information and communication technology tools would enable budget and planning officers to prepare evidence-based budgets, track implementation more effectively and strengthen the monitoring and evaluation of development projects.
He explained that the training covered nine modules of an approved curriculum, equipping participants with practical skills ranging from basic Excel operations to budget dashboard development, data governance and citizen-friendly financial reporting.
Participants commended the intervention, saying it had exposed them to digital tools and techniques that could improve their professional performance. They also pledged to apply the knowledge gained in their respective local government areas.
Danladi Usman, a Budget Officer from Biu Local Government Area of Borno State, said he would begin applying the skills acquired during the training to budget preparation from 2027.
He expressed confidence that the practical application of the knowledge would produce significant improvements in the budgeting process.
Another participant, Hurera Modu, from Kwaya Kusar Local Government Area of Borno State, said she had never imagined she could learn to use Microsoft Excel effectively in carrying out her official duties.
Similarly, Hon. Abdul Mohammed Kasila, from Biu Local Government Area, said the participants had acquired knowledge beyond their expectations and thanked the organisers for providing the opportunity to improve their skills.
At the end of the programme, certificates were presented to the participants in recognition of their successful completion of the training.
The initiative forms part of broader efforts to strengthen community development planning, improve local government financial management and promote social cohesion in participating communities across Adamawa and Borno states.
The project is supported by the European Union and BMZ, with implementation partners including Oxfam, the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ), CRUDAN, CODERHI and the Yaharakari Women and Youth Empowerment Foundation.