By Ehis Agbon, Zaria | 6 December 2025.
Kaduna State yesterday commenced a three-day workshop aimed at developing a comprehensive Implementation Plan and Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) Framework for the state’s Demographic Dividend Roadmap, in alignment with the Kaduna State Development Plan (2024–2028) and the SUSTAIN Agenda.
The workshop brought together representatives from key ministries, development partners, civil society organisations, and technical experts working in youth development, population dynamics, planning, and social protection.
Declaring the workshop open, the Commissioner for Youth Development, Barrister Gloria Ibrahim, stressed the need for coordinated, multi-sectoral strategies to harness the state’s demographic potential, noting that Kaduna’s young population remains a critical resource for future growth.
Facilitator Yusuf Ishaku Goje outlined the objectives of the workshop, which include developing an actionable implementation plan, establishing a monitoring framework, and strengthening collaboration among stakeholders.
Goodwill messages from LAFIYA, the Kaduna Bureau of Statistics (KDBS), and the Planning & Budget Commission highlighted the importance of quality data, collaborative governance, and evidence-based planning in achieving the demographic dividend.
A technical session presented by Amina Aliyu of KDBS provided an overview of the Kaduna Demographic Dividend Roadmap and its four pillars—Governance, Education, Health, and Economic Empowerment. Participants also raised concerns about overlapping mandates among some MDAs, with calls for stronger coordination and youth-centered approaches.
In another presentation, the Director of Planning at the Planning & Budget Commission, Badamasi Musa, emphasized the need to align the Demographic Dividend Roadmap with the State Development Plan and other existing policy documents. Discussions focused on harmonizing indicators, timelines, and responsibilities across sectors.
A third presentation by Deputy Director of M&E, Joseph Amadu, reviewed the state’s monitoring and evaluation system and explained how demographic dividend indicators can be integrated into existing reporting frameworks.
Participants were later assigned into thematic groups—Governance and Security/Justice, Economic Empowerment and Education, and Health and Wellbeing—to begin developing the implementation plan and M&E framework on Day 2 of the workshop.
The workshop is considered a significant step toward ensuring that Kaduna State maximizes the benefits of its youthful population by strengthening planning, coordination, and evidence-based decision-making across all sectors.
