Kaduna’s commitment to youth-focused governance has again come under the spotlight as the Youths Advocacy Coalition on Demographic Dividend commended the state for elevating young people in its development agenda, while urging the government to strengthen structures that will sustain gains under the Demographic Dividends Agenda.
Demographic dividends refer to the economic advantages that emerge when a nation’s working-age population overtakes its dependent population, resulting in higher productivity and reduced poverty levels.
In a statement released on Tuesday in Kaduna, the coalition applauded the state government for consistently investing in young people and integrating youth development into its policy direction.
The statement was jointly signed by Sumayya Hussaini, Co-chair of the Kaduna State Open Government Partnership (OGP) Technical Working Group on Strengthening the Social Protection System; and Christopher Atsen, State Coordinator of the Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI).
Other signatories included Usman Abdullahi, State Organising Secretary of the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN); Hassan John, Speaker of the Youth Assembly of Nigeria (YAN); Seth Luke, Co-chair of the Kaduna State OGP TWG on Strengthening the Participatory Budget Process; and Waniya Ilu, Head of Participatory Governance at Civic Impact for Sustainable Development.
The group welcomed the revival of the Ministry of Youths Development, describing it as a decisive move that reflects strong political will to amplify youth priorities and enhance their wellbeing.
They further commended the government for updating the State Demographic Dividends Roadmap in 2024 with support from the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office’s Lafiya Programme and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).
According to the coalition, the revised roadmap aligns closely with Gov. Uba Sani’s Sustainable Transformation Agenda for the Next Generation, reinforcing the administration’s commitment to evidence-driven human capital development.
They referenced the 2025 third-quarter budget report, which indicated a 94 per cent performance rate and over N14 billion channelled into youth-focused interventions, surpassing benchmarks for health, education, and agriculture spending.
The coalition described Kaduna as a trailblazer in youth-led development, citing its innovative policies and leadership model as examples for other states.
They called on the governor to approve the creation of a Technical Working Group under the Office of the Deputy Governor, as recommended in the roadmap, to enhance coordination and ensure accountability.
They added that the Technical Working Group should operate under the Human Capital Development Strategic Team to support multisectoral collaboration and long-term implementation.
They also proposed that the Ministry of Youths Development should serve as the Secretariat to ensure children and young people remain at the centre of all decisions that concern their growth and opportunities.
Noting that 83 per cent of Kaduna’s population comprises children and young people—according to the 2020 Kaduna Demographic and Health Survey—they stressed the need for swift and sustained action.
They explained that institutionalising this mechanism would position Kaduna as the first subnational entity in Nigeria to adopt a demographic-focused development model, one that could deliver enduring social and economic benefits.
The coalition concluded by restating its readiness to partner with the government and other stakeholders to advance inclusive growth and secure a brighter future for the youth of Kaduna State.