By Khalid Idris Doya The Young Leaders Network has convened a high-level stakeholder engagement with members of the Bauchi Sta...
By Khalid Idris Doya
The Young Leaders Network has convened a high-level stakeholder engagement with members of the Bauchi State House of Assembly and youth organisations, aimed at boosting youth participation in governance and decision-making across the state.
Speaking at the engagement meeting held at Hazibal hotel Bauchi yesterday, Moses Danjuma Kusko, Project Manager for Youth and Governance at the Network, said the event is part of a broader effort to foster stronger legislative engagement between elected officials and the citizens they serve.
"For the past seven years, we have been running the Citizens-Legislators Forum across nine local government areas in Bauchi State with funding support from the National Endowment for Democracy. Through grassroots engagement such as constituency town hall meetings, we’ve made progress, but now is the time to scale our efforts," he said.
He emphasised that the goal is to strengthen collaboration between citizens and lawmakers, ensuring that young people play an active role in shaping governance at all levels.
Kusko highlighted that the Citizens-Legislators Forum is designed not only to encourage dialogue but also to drive the development and sponsorship of motions, bills, and petitions that reflect youth priorities.
According to him, the initiatives core focus areas include Youth Participation and Engagement to enhance young people's involvement in decision-making and public service and employment and empowerment to promote youth entrepreneurship and economic inclusion.
Others include the education sector and Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) to increase youth-led advocacy for better access and management of WASH services.
"These priorities are outlined in our Community Charter of Demands and Rights, shaped through inclusive consultations with young people and other stakeholders across Bauchi State," he added.
He urged the Bauchi State House of Assembly to prioritise bills that promote youth inclusion, adding that a communiqué will be drafted at the end of the engagement and submitted to the Assembly for consideration.
The workshop brought together over 70 participants, including the Speaker of the Bauchi State House of Assembly, principal officers, and the chairmen of the Committees on Youth, Budget, and Internal Security. Also in attendance were representatives from over 40 youth-led organisations, student unions, women's groups, and networks from all 20 local government areas of the state.
"This collective presence underscores the commitment of young people to shaping a more inclusive, participatory, and accountable governance system," Kusko said.
Also speaking, Rt. Hon. Mohammed Idris Musa, Speaker of the Bauchi Youth Parliament, urged youths not to isolate themselves from leadership processes.
"Young people must not limit themselves or stay on the sidelines. You have a critical role in shaping your communities. Get involved, participate actively, and take ownership of the future you want to see," he charged.
One of the participants, Maryam Musa, expressed gratitude for the opportunity to learn, "I now understand how to better use my voice to contribute to society. I plan to share this knowledge with other young people," she said.
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