Kaduna Hosts Dialogue To Strengthen Youth Engagement In Governance, OGP Reforms
By Umar Faruk Tukur
Stakeholders drawn from government, civil society and youth groups have convened in Kaduna for a one-day dialogue aimed at strengthening citizens’ engagement in the Open Government Partnership (OGP) and democratic governance.
The dialogue was organised by the OpenGov Youth Innovation Hub in collaboration with the Youth Advocacy Coalition on Democratic Dividends and the Kaduna Democracy Drivers Network.
Speaking at the event, the Kaduna State Commissioner for Youth Development, Gloria Ibrahim, described the engagement as timely and strategic, noting the growing interest of young people in governance processes.
Ibrahim said the dialogue provided an opportunity to strengthen youth participation in decision-making and deepen inclusive governance.
“Young people must take ownership of governance processes that affect their lives,” she said, adding that the establishment of the Ministry of Youth Development was aimed at bridging the gap between young people and the government.
In his remarks, the Director of Monitoring and Evaluation, Kaduna State Planning and Budget Commission, Bashir Ladan, represented by Yerima Jatau, emphasised the importance of inclusive and participatory governance.
Ladan noted that engaging young people would strengthen evidence-based decision-making and improve policy outcomes.
Also speaking, the OGP Point of Contact in Kaduna State, Mr Tara Jeremiah, described the platform as a mechanism for fostering collaboration between government and citizens.
He said the focus is to translate policy frameworks into practical actions that impact communities.
Jeremiah stressed that co-creation remains central to the OGP process, ensuring that reforms are jointly developed and implemented.
In a remark, the OGP Citizens Co-Chair, Musa Suleiman, represented by Mahmud Shehu, said the dialogue provides an opportunity to move from discussion to action.
He added that the outcomes would strengthen accountability and improve service delivery.
The engagement featured discussions on the OGP Youth Engagement Power Plan, aimed at enhancing youth participation in governance and aligning with the Kaduna State Youth Policy and the OGP State Action Plan.
Participants also identified key priority areas for implementation and called for stronger collaboration among stakeholders to drive reforms.