From: Femi Oyelola in Kaduna
The Kaduna State LAFIYA Program Team Leader, Solomon Chanan, and his team recently paid an advocacy visit to the Honourable Commissioner, Ministry of Youth Development, Barrister Gloria Ibrahim, as part of preparations for the new financial year.
During the visit, the team presented IEC materials received from the National Office, highlighting the importance of youth empowerment and the demographic dividend in the state. ¹
The Honourable Commissioner expressed appreciation for the support provided to the Ministry and called for strengthened collaboration, particularly in the areas of the demographic dividend and youth investment.
This visit is part of the Youth Advocacy Campaign to Accelerate Implementation of the Kaduna State Demographic Dividends Roadmap, supported by the Civic Impact for Sustainable Development Foundation and the Lafiya Programme.
The team made several advocacy requests, including partnering with the Advocacy Group to raise public awareness of the demographic dividend report, serving as the Secretariat to coordinate implementation of the Roadmap, and leading the development of an implementation plan and a monitoring and evaluation framework.
The Honourable Commissioner, Barrister Gloria Ibrahim, warmly welcomed the advocacy team and reiterated the Kaduna State Government’s commitment to youth development, empowerment, and participation.
She accepted all the advocacy requests and pledged to champion the implementation of the Demographic Dividends Roadmap.
The Demographic Dividend Roadmap is a strategic framework designed to harness the potential of young people for sustainable development in Kaduna State.
The roadmap emphasizes government investment in youth across several key areas, including governance, economic empowerment, education, health and well-being, security, equity, and justice.
The visit aimed to promote youth engagement and participation in the state’s development agenda, leveraging the demographic dividend to drive economic growth and prosperity.
The team expressed gratitude to the Honourable Commissioner for her steadfast commitment to youth development and empowerment in Kaduna State.
The Kaduna State Government has established a Technical Working Group to accelerate implementation of the Demographic Dividend Roadmap, marking a significant milestone in the state’s effort to deliberately invest in youth development and long-term socio-economic growth.
The Ministry of Youth Development is expected to take ownership of the roadmap and act as its primary advocate, encouraging other ministries, departments, and agencies to prioritize its implementation.
The ministry will also provide secretariat support to enhance coordination, under the oversight of the office of the Deputy Governor.
The advocacy visit is part of ongoing efforts to harness the demographic dividend and promote youth empowerment in Kaduna State.
The state government has reaffirmed its commitment to accelerating the implementation of the Demographic Dividend Roadmap, with a focus on youth development and empowerment.
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