The Center of Awareness on Justice and Accountability (CAJA) on Wednesday organized a public lecture on “Strengthening Youth Participation in Democratic Process” at Mambayya House in Kano.
The event which was held at the Aminu Kano Centre for Democratic Studies was supported by Nigerian Women Trust Fund (NWTF) and funded by the Mac Arthur Foundation.
The objective of the event was to bolster youth engagement in governance and democratic processes.
It is expected that the public lecture will served as a catalyst for dialogue and collaboration that will inspire youths to actively engage in shaping the future of democratic governance in Kano state and beyond
In his opening remarks, Kabiru Dakata, the Executive Director of CAJA, underscored the vital role of youths in shaping the democratic landscape, revealing that over 70% of them actively participated in the previous election.
Dakata however, expressed concern that many youths are now sidelined in the governance process post-election, emphasizing the intrinsic connection between democracy and active citizen engagement.
He urged youths to remain proactive and hold leaders accountable, emphasizing that democracy thrives on active participation.
Dakata outlined CAJA’s initiatives to empower youths and enhance their involvement in the democratic process.
“Our successes so far include; organizing town hall meetings across Kano’s three senatorial districts and hosting radio programs facilitating dialogue between community representatives and constituents.
“Before we engaged with lawmakers in Kano, there were no constituency offices across Local Government Areas in the State
“Now we are proud that some lawmakers are beginning to establish constituency offices in a bit to promote better engagement between leaders and the people,” Dakata stated.
Under the project titled “Positive Engagement of Youth for Truly Democratic Process in Nigeria,” CAJA has been actively advocating for increased youth participation in governance.
Hamza Safiyanu Kachako, the Kano state supervising commissioner for youth and sport development, delivered a keynote address, encouraging youths to actively engage in governance.
He emphasized that youths are the future leaders who must be at the forefront of societal development.
He added: “It is pertinent to always be at the front-row in issues regarding the development of the society to positively contribute to making positive change in the society.
“If the youths hold duty bearers accountable, they will have no other option than to fulfil the promises they made to the people.
“I believe that the positive change which the youths desire will begin to evident in the society.”
Abodede Jaiyeola, a representative of NWTF urged youths to fully support CAJA’s efforts to foster their active participation in democratic governance.
She emphasized the importance of ownership and sustainability of the project beyond its duration, urging youths to remain committed to democratic processes even after the project concludes.
Ibrahim Waiya, the Chairman, Northern States Civil Society Networks, advised youths to adopt a strategic and diplomatic approach to seeking accountability from the government.
He emphasized the effectiveness of diplomacy over confrontation, encouraging youths to explore diplomatic channels for positive participation in the democratic process.
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