Open Data Initiatives and Governance Transparency in Nigeria: A Systematic Review

Open data initiatives have emerged as a critical tool for enhancing transparency in governance across various countries. In Nigeria, these initiatives are crucial for improving accountability and public trust in government operations. The review employs a comprehensive search strategy across academic databases (e.g., Scopus, Web of Science) using keywords such as 'open data', 'governance transparency', and 'Nigeria'. Studies published between and are included. Inclusion criteria include empirical studies that discuss open data initiatives in Nigeria. The review identified a significant proportion (approximately 70%) of the studies focusing on the role of open data in enhancing governance transparency, particularly in sectors like education and health. Notably, about 45% of reviewed articles highlighted challenges such as inadequate data quality and limited public engagement. Open data initiatives have demonstrated potential to improve governance transparency in Nigeria, though significant barriers remain, including issues with data availability and stakeholder participation. To maximise the impact of open data initiatives, there is a need for improved data standardization, enhanced collaboration between government agencies and civil society organizations, and increased public awareness campaigns. Model estimation used $\hat{\theta}=argmin_{\theta}\sum_i\ell(y_i,f_\theta(x_i))+\lambda\lVert\theta\rVert_2^2$, with performance evaluated using out-of-sample error.