Ehis Agbon
The Youth Advocacy Coalition on Demographic Dividend has called for strengthened collaboration with the Kaduna State Bureau of Statistics to accelerate the implementation of the state’s Demographic Dividend Roadmap (DDR). This followed an advocacy visit to the Statistician General and CEO of the Bureau on 20th November 2025.
The meeting, held at the Bureau’s headquarters, brought together the Statistician General, Dr. Bukar Baba, and his management team, alongside representatives of the Youth Advocacy Coalition on Demographic Dividends drawn from YALI Kaduna, the Open Government Partnership (OGP) Technical Working Group on Participatory Budgeting, the Youth Assembly of Nigeria (YAN), Open Gov Youth Innovation Hub, Kaduna Local Government Accountability Mechanism (KADLGAM), and Civic Impact for Sustainable Development Foundation.
Coalition Commends Bureau, Makes Key Requests
During the meeting, the coalition applauded the Bureau of Statistics for its pivotal role in producing the Kaduna State Demographic Dividend Report and Roadmap, describing it as a major foundation for achieving youth-centered development in the state.
The group requested that the Bureau partner with them to secure the commitment of the Deputy Governor in establishing a coordination mechanism for the DDR, with the Ministry of Youth Development serving as the Secretariat. They also urged the Bureau to collaborate with the Ministry in accelerating the development of an implementation plan and a monitoring and evaluation framework, with support from development partners.
Bureau Pledges Support, Promises Leadership
Responding, Dr. Baba expressed strong enthusiasm for the initiative, affirming the Bureau’s readiness to collaborate fully with the coalition to drive the DDR framework. He pledged to champion the process and ensure that relevant ministries, departments, agencies, and partners are mobilized to support the roadmap.
The Statistician General further agreed to work with the coalition to establish a monitoring committee to oversee the DDR’s implementation, with the Ministry of Youth Development serving as the secretariat.
Commitments and Next Steps
Both parties resolved to work closely to ensure the successful rollout of the Demographic Dividend Roadmap. The coalition committed to providing continuous engagement, while the Bureau assured it would mobilize other MDAs to support the initiative. The parties also agreed to jointly develop a clear implementation and monitoring plan.
Looking Ahead
The coalition expressed gratitude to the Statistician General and the Kaduna State Bureau of Statistics for their warm reception and willingness to support the DDR initiative, noting that the partnership represents an important step toward improving outcomes for young people in Kaduna State.
The communiqué was jointly signed by Christopher Atsen, State Coordinator, YALI Kaduna; Seth Luke, Co-chair, OGP TWG on Participatory Budgeting; Hassan John, Speaker, Youth Assembly of Nigeria (YAN) Kaduna; and Patience Fredrick, Member, Open Gov Youth Innovation Hub.
