Gatefield partners MIT, Ekiti govt on Nigeria’s 1st governance innovation accelerator

An Abuja-based public strategy firm, Gatefield, has announced its partnership with a leading American university, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Governance Lab (MIT GOV/LAB), Co-Creation Hub, and the Ekiti State Ministry of Health and Human Services to launch the first governance innovation accelerator in Nigeria.

Vice President, People Operations, Gatefield, Chika Akintan, said on Tuesday that the agreement was sealed after a meeting with Ekiti State Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, at the State Government House in Ado Ekiti.

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She said the accelerator will be a launchpad to develop governance innovation ideas and prototypes within the health sector.

The Lead Strategist at Gatefield Adewunmi Emoruwa, said in a statement that “Over the past nine months, MIT GOV/LAB, Gatefield, and CC Hub have co-created a novel Governance Innovation Framework. The framework is an iterative process grounded in traditional human-centered design, emphasizing the complexities of designing in complex political, social and economic environments.

“The accelerator programme will last for eight months and be deployed in phases, beginning with an intensive introduction to governance innovation and human-centered design for the public service teams. At the end of the eight months, two teams will be trained and supported with technical expertise to undertake research, to co-create and pilot an innovative governance innovation solution.

“We are excited by this partnership with MIT GOV/LAB and the state ministry of health led by Dr Oyebanji Filani. We could not be prouder that we are empowering innovators in the public sector at an important time where there is a global appreciation of the significance of strong healthcare systems due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“The accelerator will support the quality of care and public health security teams to develop a governance innovation solution and provide a plan to develop further, institutionalize, and support the proposed innovation within the Ministry”.

The program will start with an intensive boot camp and training on human-centered design and the innovation framework. After completing all lessons and assignments, participants will receive a certificate of accelerator completion from MIT GOV/LAB.