The Youths Advocacy Coalition on Demographic Dividend has praised Kaduna State for prioritising youth development in policy implementation, calling for a stronger policy structure to sustain the ‘Demographic Dividends Agenda’. Demographic dividends refer to economic gains arising when the working-age population exceeds the dependent population, leading to increased productivity and reduced poverty.

In a statement on Tuesday, the coalition praised the government’s commitment to investing in young people’s future.

Signatories to the statement were Sumayya Hussaini, the Co-chair, Kaduna State Open Government Partnership Technical Working Group on Strengthening Social Protection System and Christopher Atsen, the coordinator of Young African Leaders Initiative.

Others were Usman Abdullahi, the organising secretary of the National Youth Council of Nigeria; Hassan John, the speaker of the Youth Assembly of Nigeria; Seth Luke, co-chair of the Kaduna State OGP TWG on Strengthening the Participatory Budget Process; and Waniya Ilu, head, Participatory Governance, Civic Impact for Sustainable Development.

The coalition hailed the re-establishment of the Ministry of Youth Development, describing it as a bold step that shows political will to listen to and actively support youth aspirations and wellbeing.

They also commended the government for reviewing and developing the State Demographic Dividends Roadmap in 2024, with support from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office Lafiya Programme and the United Nations Population Fund.

They said the roadmap strongly aligned with Governor Uba Sani’s ‘Sustainable Transformation Agenda for the Next Generation’ manifesto, confirming commitment to evidence-based human capital development.

They cited the 2025 third-quarter budget report showing 94 per cent performance, over N14 billion spent on youth-targeted interventions, and surpassing the budget thresholds for health, education, and agriculture.

They described Kaduna as a state that leads, innovates, and sets the pace for others to follow in youth-centred development and governance.

The coalition urged Sani to approve a Technical Working Group under the Office of the Deputy Governor, as stipulated in the roadmap, to drive coordination and accountability.

They said the technical working group should be housed within the Human Capital Development Strategic Team to guide effective multi-sectoral engagement and long-term implementation.

They also recommended placing the youth ministry as its secretariat to ensure youths and children remained central to decisions affecting their wellbeing and opportunities.

They stated that children and young people constitute 83 per cent of Kaduna’s population, according to the 2020 Kaduna Demographic and Health Survey, underscoring the urgency of action.

They added that institutionalising this mechanism would make Kaduna the first subnational in Nigeria to adopt a demographic-driven development structure with historic and lasting benefits.

They reaffirmed their commitment to supporting government efforts, engaging stakeholders, and championing initiatives that secure a prosperous and inclusive future for all young people in Kaduna.

(NAN)