From: Femi Oyelola, Kaduna
Youth inclusiveness in governance will fast-track sustainable economic growth and development and help in actualizing principles of Open Governance as enshrined in the global developmental framework.
This was the submission of Kaduna State Contact Person of Open Government Partnership (OPG)Terrah Jeremiah in Kaduna while highlighting key areas of concern and commitment in achieving set goals of Youth Involvement in policy and governmental affairs from community to the highest level of democratic experiment.
He stressed the need for youth below the age of 35 whom he noted from 80 percent of the state’s population to take the initiative by being active and involved in budget planning, monitoring, and execution to ensure timely delivery of quality projects with direct impacts and benefits to the masses.
State facilitator of Youth Open Governance Initiative Seith Luke pointed out that the younger generation in any contemporary society should be the driving force of any meaningful policies meant to spread dividends of democracy to the beneficiaries as this, according to him would go a long way in ensuring even development.
He disclosed that youth of 24 years downward by the vantage of forming 60 percent of the total population of Kaduna State should be a potent force utilized by policymakers for mass mobilization for the success of developmental programs at the grassroots.
“We decided to take the message to campuses of enlightening our youth in the academia on how they can participate in governance and be involved in affairs that affect their lives and wellbeing in one way or the other.”
