From Femi Oyelola, Kaduna
Education stakeholders in Kaduna State have stepped up efforts to enhance transparency and accountability in the sector through a one-day capacity-building workshop on budget tracking and project monitoring organized by YouthHubAfrica.
Held at the Ministry of Youth Development in Kaduna, the workshop brought together civil society actors, education officials, and community representatives for practical training on monitoring budget allocations, tracking expenditure releases, and engaging the government through the Citizen Participation Approach (CPA).
The session aimed to build on Phase One of the training by reinforcing knowledge, addressing gaps identified in the field, and equipping participants with practical tools for daily work with schools, SUBEB, and local education authorities.
In his opening remarks, YouthHubAfrica’s Executive Director, Mr. Rotimi Olawale, stated that the workshop reflects the organization’s commitment to fostering citizen engagement and accountable governance. Drawing from his experience overseeing education projects nationwide, he emphasized that real learning happens in the field. He shared examples of classrooms with low ceilings that students damaged during play, and schools on main roads receiving excess facilities, while inner-city schools remain underfunded. “This is why we talk about value for money,” he said, urging participants to use data and evidence to engage the government constructively. Olawale highlighted that civil society’s role is not to oppose the government but to collaborate, identify gaps, and recognize progress.
Representing the Ministry of Youth Development, Director Lami Usman praised the youth-led initiative, noting that such activities help keep the government responsive to citizens’ needs. “Without this kind of program and you engaging with the government, they will not do the expected thing,” she said. “All we want is for the citizens of Nigeria, and especially Kaduna State, to live happily, and for their needs to be met by the government.”
Facilitators guided participants through the entire budget cycle as it relates to education, using real state budget documents to demonstrate how to read allocations, track fund releases, and cross-check figures against project status on the ground. A key focus was the Citizen Participatory Audit (CPA), which trains communities, SBMCs, and education officials to create a feedback loop that informs government action and improves school service delivery.
Yusuf Ishyaku Goje, Executive Director of Civil Impact for Sustainable Development Foundation, led a session on identifying school needs and linking them to budget planning. He explained that effective budgeting starts with understanding gaps in classrooms, teachers, learning materials, WASH facilities, and security. “When school needs are clearly identified and linked to budget planning, resources are allocated more efficiently, projects become more impactful, and students benefit from better educational outcomes,” he said. He outlined steps, including school assessments, stakeholder engagement, data analysis, and prioritization, demonstrating how these feed into participatory budgeting.
Monday Etubi of YouthHubAfrica also led practical sessions on connecting identified needs to budget responses, such as funding for classroom construction, furniture, teacher recruitment, and WASH facilities. Participants discussed strategies to improve this process, including strengthening school data systems, promoting participatory budgeting, and building the capacity of education actors to monitor and track.
The workshop ended with a call for sustained collaboration among civil society, government, and communities to ensure education budgets reflect actual school priorities. Organizers noted that the goal is to improve resource allocation, increase accountability, and ultimately deliver better learning outcomes for students across Kaduna State.
