COMMUNIQUE ISSUED AT THE END OF THE LAUNCH OF #OGPYouthScaleUp CAMPUS IGNITE TOUR ORGANIZED BY THE #OPENGOV YOUTH INNOVATION HUB, AT THE KADUNA STATE UNIVERSITY (KASU), KADUNA STATE
Preamble
On the 25th October, 2023, the #OpenGov Youth Innovation Hub piloted its #OGPYouthScaleUp Campus Ignite tour at the Kaduna State University (KASU) with the theme – Charting New Horizon: Youth Innovation and Bridging Frontiers for Open Governance. The event was organized in partnership with the Planning and Budget Commission (PBC), Ihifix, Coalition of Associations for Leadership, Peace Empowerment and Development (CALPED), ReSet-Nigeria, BIG Initiative and supported by Partnership to Engage, Reform and Learn (PERL).`
The largest youth-led OGP event in Kaduna State had in attendance over 400 students (including leaders of student unions as well as KASU students disability community) and youth from diverse sectors; as well as the Honourable Commissioner, Planning and Budget Commission (PBC) – represented by the Director of Monitoring & Evaluation, Point of Contact (PoC) of OGP Kaduna Secretariat, Special Assistant to the Governor on Student Matters, Civil Society Advisor – OGP Nigeria Secretariat, immediate past Civil Society OGP Kaduna State Steering Committee Co-chair, representative of the Vice Chancellor of KASU, Dean of Students Affairs, KASU Chairman of Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), media, development partner and team members of the #OpenGov Youth Innovation Hub.
The event had the following objectives: increase awareness of students and other stakeholders on OGP Kaduna and opportunities for citizens’ engagement; brainstorm strategies and generate recommendations to encourage students and youth participation in governance leveraging OGP; and promote the participation of students in governance with the unveiling of #OGPYouthScaleUp and setting up of campus chapters.
*Key Talking Points*
1. The Honorable Commission, Planning & Budget Commission – Kaduna State, was commended for encouraging youth participation in governance and accepting to serve as the Ambassador of the #OpenGov Youth Innovation Hub.
2. The continuous support of the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) – PERL program, in sustaining OGP reforms was acknowledged.
3. The students were enlightened on OGP, which aims to secure commitment from national and subnational governments to promote good governance and empower citizens.
4. The students and youths were encouraged to be part of the different OGP Kaduna technical working groups to shape action plans across the commitment areas.
5. The #OGPYouthScaleUp seeks to mobilize, organize, capacitate and empower students, between 18-29 years, to effectively leverage OGP towards engaging the governance system in Kaduna State.
6. The era of insulting and antagonizing the government has passed. It is now time to organize and generate practical solutions so that the needs of the people (students and youth) can meaningfully inform public decision-making.
7. Closing the information gap, continuous mentorship and opening up the OGP space are among the strategies to make the students and youths key into the reform program.
8. The youth with disabilities were urged to be courageous and seek capacity towards making sure their voices are heard.
9. There is the need for the youth to leverage the OGP platform to constructively engage the government as well as the school management.
10. The students and youths were advised to leverage technology to advocate for fiscal transparency and hold the government accountable to ensure quality public service delivery.
*Resolutions*
1. Establish KASU #OpenGov Student Hub as a community of practice in promoting the gospel of OGP and mobilization of student participation in the implementation of State Action Plans (SAPs).
2. Facilitate activities to strengthen the capacity of students to leverage the OGP reforms in order to inform, influence and even change government decisions that affect them.
3. Advocate for the replication of OGP permanent dialogue mechanism between the students and school management towards improving the standard of learning environment.
4. The #OpenGov Youth Innovation Hub will partner with the S.A. to the Governor on Students Matters to carry-out advocacy to all the campuses in the State – calling for the appointment of a disability officer and representation on student unions’ executive councils to ensure adequate inclusion of students with disability.
Signed:
Asmau Zakari
#OpenGov Youth Innovation Hub, Kaduna
Waniya Ilu
#OpenGov Youth Innovation Hub, Kaduna
Sumayya Abdul Hussaini
#OpenGov Youth Innovation Hub, Kaduna
Isaac Sunday
#OpenGov Youth Innovation Hub, Kaduna
