From Femi Oyelola in Kaduna
Stakeholders participating in a two-day technical session aimed at developing advocacy strategies and tools for implementing the Kaduna State Demographic Dividend Roadmap urged the state government to leverage demographic dividends for a better future.
They emphasized that this initiative could transform the state’s youthful population into a productive force, driving economic growth and prosperity.
The roadmap outlines key action areas, including governance, economic empowerment, education, health and well-being, and security and justice.
Presenting a paper titled “Understanding Kaduna State Demographic Dividends Roadmap, 2024,” Yusuf Isyaku Goje, Executive Director of the Civic Impact for Sustainable Development Foundation, highlighted the importance of investing in human capital, particularly among the youth, to spur economic productivity and growth.
Goje, citing Hon. Ahmed Mukhtar, Commissioner for the Planning and Budget Commission, stressed the need for stakeholders to collaborate in realizing this vision. “As we transition from planning to implementation, I call upon all stakeholders—government institutions, private sector actors, civil society organizations, development partners, and the citizens of Kaduna State—to work together to bring the vision outlined in this roadmap to fruition.”
According to Goje, the demographic landscape of Kaduna State reveals a concerning statistic: approximately 49% of women of reproductive age (15-49 years) have no formal education. Within this group, 76.3% are married, and 72.3% have experienced childbirth. The limited health insurance coverage, at just 2.0%, further exacerbates this issue.
He explained that the roadmap is anchored on five thematic pillars: governance, economic empowerment, education, health and well-being, and security and justice. Each pillar includes specific objectives and strategies, such as enacting a state youth policy, promoting entrepreneurship development, improving access to education and healthcare, and strengthening the justice system.
Earlier, Hon. Mukhtar Zubairu, Special Adviser on NGOs to the Deputy Governor of Kaduna State, stated that the aim of the three-day technical session is to develop advocacy strategies and tools to accelerate the implementation of the Kaduna State Demographic Dividend Roadmap.
He added that this would be achieved through several specific objectives: deepening stakeholders’ understanding of the demographic dividends roadmap, creating a unified advocacy document outlining key areas of focus, stakeholders, strategies, and actions for advocating the rapid implementation of the Demographic Dividend Roadmap; developing advocacy materials and tools to support these initiatives; and establishing a framework for tracking advocacy progress and monitoring implementation.
He assured participants that the Kaduna State government would align with the workshop’s outcomes.
Chanan Solomon, Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning Coordinator of the Lafiya Project, which is supported by the Foreign and Commonwealth Development Office (FCDO), who are the sponsors of the event expressed his organization’s pleasure in partnering with the Youth Advocacy Coalition on the Demographic Dividends Roadmap and the technical support provided by the Civic Impact for Sustainable Development Foundation for the advancement of the youth in Kaduna State. He pledged his organization’s support for the initiative.
Additionally, Ahmed Aminu, Planning Officer of the Kaduna Bureau of Statistics, presented the demographic landscape of the state, highlighting both its challenges and opportunities.
The Kaduna State government has committed to aligning with the outcomes of the workshop and ensuring the implementation of the roadmap. With the support of stakeholders, the state aims to harness its demographic dividend and drive sustainable development.
