From:Femi Mustapha
The Kaduna State Ministry of Youth Development has launched a Youth Advocacy Coalition Committee on Demographic Dividend (YAC-DD), with stakeholders promising to accelerate the implementation of the state’s Demographic Dividend Roadmap through youth-led advocacy and accountability.
During the inauguration, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Youth Development, Al-Amin Murtala Dabo, who represented the Honorable Commissioner, Barrister Gloria Ibrahim, emphasized that the committee’s efforts are vital as Kaduna’s population continues to rise rapidly.
He mentioned that the ministry has been collaborating with partners, especially the LAPIA project, for nearly a year and expressed satisfaction with the progress achieved so far.
Dabo encouraged the newly appointed executive members to be proactive and diligent, highlighting Kaduna’s national importance. “In Nigeria, whatever you say, Kaduna State, attention goes there quickly.
“We are third in terms of population. Likewise, regarding youth, we must be third. So please, let them do a very thorough and good work so that others can draw from our DDR platform,” he urged.
He also reassured the new executive members of the ministry’s support. Dabo stated that the Commissioner’s door remains open and reaffirmed her commitment, noting that Barrister Gloria Ibrahim attends to coalition members even outside working hours.
“We are doing the very best, and I want to assure you that we will maintain that relationship, by God’s will,” he said.
Welcoming participants, the Permanent Secretary, represented by the Ministry’s Director of Finance and Administration, Comfort Audu, described the gathering as inspiring.
She said it was encouraging to see young people working together toward a common goal and praised the administration’s focus on youth issues.
Audu praised the appointment of a young Commissioner as a positive move. “The Governor has assigned Barrister Gloria Ibrahim to lead the youth and the ministry. I think it’s a significant achievement.
So we commend this administration for that,” she said, while wishing the committee peaceful deliberations and successful outcomes.
The Director of Planning at Kaduna State Planning and Budget Commission, Mal. Badamasi Musa, who spoke on behalf of Hon. Commissioner Mukhtar Ahmed, appreciated the partners and the government for creating a supportive environment.
He urged the coalition and ministry to be resourceful despite funding limitations.
“Let’s make the most of the resources available so that work meant for two days can be completed in one. Otherwise, our goals may not be achieved because resources might run out,” Musa said. He reaffirmed his personal support and that of the Commissioner, even while in Zaria.
In his goodwill message, Solomon Chanan from the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) Lafiya Program, thanked the Ministry of Youth Development and the Kaduna State Government for prioritizing the demographic dividend.
He said his organization is pleased to partner on the project and urged the newly appointed exco to lead the coalition with transparency, in line with the state youth policy.
Providing an overview, Executive Director of Civic Impact for Sustainable Development Foundation (CISDevF), Yusuf Ishaku Goje, explained that Kaduna is the third-most populous state in Nigeria, with high fertility, mortality, and migration rates.
By 2025, the projected population was about 11 million and is expected to exceed 12 million by 2030.
Goje noted that about 8 out of every 10 people in Kaduna are under 40, and 3 out of every 10 are between 15 and 34. Over 70%, or approximately 8.04 million people, are multidimensionally poor and lack necessities. “The population growth is outpacing the government’s ability to meet its diverse and increasing needs,” he said.
To address this issue, the Kaduna State Demographic Dividend Roadmap was first created in 2017 and last updated in 2024. Its implementation has been slow and disorganized due to the absence of a coordination mechanism under the Office of the Deputy Governor. The YAC-DD is meant to fill that gap.
The coalition’s vision is to position Kaduna’s youth demographic as the primary driver of sustainable economic growth, human capital development, and open governance.
Its mission is to accelerate DDR 2024 implementation by anchoring advocacy on empirical data, fostering inclusion in public financial management, and promoting social accountability.
Core principles include co-creation between youth structures and state actors, evidence-based advocacy rooted in budget analysis, gender and social inclusion for young women and persons with disabilities, and fiscal accountability in resource tracking.
The coalition will focus on five pillars: Good Governance; Economic Empowerment; Education and Skill Development; Health and Social Welfare; and Security, Equity, and Justice.
The YAC-DD governance structure includes Co-Chairs Sumayya Hussaini and Seth Luke, who will provide strategic direction and represent the coalition. Co-Secretaries Shim Kajang and Usman Idris Abdullahi will manage operations and records.
Technical committees on Advocacy & Communication, Evidence Gathering, Youth Mobilization, and Gender Inclusion were also introduced, with CISDevF serving as Technical Advisor and Secretariat.
The coalition will meet monthly, while executive and committee leaders will meet every two months. Decisions will be made by consensus or simple majority, and all external communications will require verification by the Advocacy & Communication Committee and approval from the Co-Chairs.
