From: Femi Oyelola in Kaduna
The Kaduna State Government has officially inaugurated a Technical Working Group (TWG) aimed at accelerating the implementation of the Kaduna State Demographic Dividend Roadmap for 2024. The ceremony took place during a stakeholders’ meeting convened by the Ministry of Youth Development, bringing together government officials, development partners, civil society organizations, youth groups, and the media.
During the event, the Honourable Commissioner for Youth Development, Barrister Gloria Ibrahim, described the inauguration as a critical transition from policy formulation to coordinated implementation. She stated that today’s meeting marks the formal establishment of the Technical Working Group for the Kaduna State Demographic Dividend Roadmap.
“I want to sincerely appreciate our partners, including the LAFIYA Programme, and all stakeholders whose voices, expertise, and commitment have brought us to this point. We have come a long way, and your contributions reflect the strength of partnership and collaboration,” she said. Barrister Ibrahim emphasized that the TWG will play a vital role in translating the roadmap into measurable outcomes for young people across the state and reaffirmed the Ministry’s full commitment to supporting the initiative.
“Together, we will build a state where every young person is equipped, empowered, and encouraged to contribute meaningfully to society, shaping a brighter future for generations to come,” she concluded.
In a goodwill message on behalf of the LAFIYA Programme, funded by the Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office (FCDO), the Kaduna State Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning Coordinator of the program, Chanan Solomon, commended Kaduna State for emerging as a national reference point in advancing the Demographic Dividend agenda.
He noted that the partnership with the Ministry of Youth Development had already yielded tangible results within a short period, attributing this success to the Ministry’s openness, commitment, and willingness to collaborate.
“Our goal was to see measurable achievements before the end of the year, and I am glad to say that clear evidence of progress and success has already been recorded,” Solomon said.
“From our experience across several states where the LAFIYA Programme is implementing similar initiatives, Kaduna State currently stands out in terms of progress.”
He cautioned that shifting funding priorities and policy changes could threaten the initiative’s sustainability unless the roadmap is institutionalized within government structures, and called for a dedicated framework to sustain the initiative beyond donor funding.
Solomon also praised the Civic Impact for Sustainable Development Foundation, particularly its Executive Director, Yusuf Ishaku Goje, for their significant intellectual contributions to the successes achieved so far.
The media was also acknowledged for the visibility they have provided to the Demographic Dividend Roadmap in Kaduna State.
In her remarks, Amina Sani Bello, the Special Senior Assistant (SSA) to the Kaduna State Governor on Student Matters, assured stakeholders of high-level government support for the initiative, describing the Demographic Dividend agenda as central to Kaduna’s development vision.
“Youth and students are inseparable. Students are youth, and youth are students,” she stated. “This initiative concerns all of us and will positively affect our collective future.” She commended Commissioner Gloria Ibrahim for her leadership, praised Kaduna as a pace-setting state whose policies are often replicated elsewhere, and pledged to brief Governor Uba Sani on the outcomes of the meeting, expressing confidence that the Governor would fully support the initiative, especially given his strong record in the education sector. “With this level of commitment, I am confident that this program will not only meet expectations but surpass them,” Bello added.
In his closing remarks, Al-Amin Murtala Dabo, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Youth Development, formally accepted the mandate on behalf of the Technical Working Group and assured stakeholders of diligence and accountability.
“This is not our first engagement on the Demographic Dividend Roadmap. We have come a long way, and Kaduna State is already a reference point,” he said. “Other states look up to us and often replicate what we do.” He stressed that the government expects results and that Kaduna’s governance culture does not tolerate mediocrity. “We must rise to the challenge and do the right thing. I am optimistic that states currently lagging behind will eventually come to Kaduna State to learn from our model,” Dabo added, describing the roadmap as a potential ‘Kaduna template’ for the rest of the country. He thanked all partners, civil society groups, and participants for their commitment and formally closed the program, wishing attendees a safe journey home.
With the inauguration of the Technical Working Group, Kaduna State has decisively moved from policy design to structured implementation of its Demographic Dividend Roadmap.
