By Ibrahim Hassan-Wuyo

KADUNA — A non-governmental organisation, Bridge Connect Africa Initiative, has unveiled a regional youth development policy agenda aimed at promoting youth participation, governance engagement and sustainable development across the seven states of North-West Nigeria.

The framework was launched at the North-West Youth Summit 2026 held in Kaduna, with support from the Nigeria Youth Futures Fund, the Youth Leading Change Programme (YLCP) and other partners.

Speaking at the event, Executive Director of Bridge Connect Africa Initiative, Sani Muhammad, said the policy agenda was the product of extensive consultations and stakeholder engagements across the region.

According to him, the framework was developed under the Youth Leading Change Programme to strengthen policy coordination, adoption and accountability among governments and key stakeholders in the North-West.

He explained that the document emerged from a series of state-level youth policy dialogues and consultations conducted across the seven states of the region.

“The agenda outlines shared priorities, implementation pathways and mechanisms for stronger collaboration among institutions, development partners, civil society organisations and young people,” Muhammad said.

He described the summit as the culmination of a year-long initiative focused on strengthening youth leadership, governance participation and policy engagement.

Muhammad disclosed that the programme trained 35 youth fellows in civic engagement, policy advocacy and stakeholder coordination, while also strengthening 21 youth-led organisations through the establishment of the North-West Youth Development Consortium.

According to him, the consortium was created to promote collaboration, knowledge sharing and collective action on issues affecting young people in the region.

He added that policy dialogue workshops involving government officials, civil society organisations and youth groups helped identify implementation gaps and practical solutions to challenges confronting youths across the North-West.

Muhammad said the summit was convened to secure broader institutional support and commitments toward the implementation of the youth development agenda.

In his keynote address, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Northwest Development Commission, Prof. Shehu Ma’aji, commended the initiative, describing it as a significant step toward coordinated youth development in the region.

He noted that young people in the North-West had consistently demonstrated resilience, creativity and leadership in addressing social and economic challenges.

According to him, the policy agenda reflects the aspirations and priorities of communities across the seven states and provides a roadmap for more inclusive and accountable development.

“Sustainable development requires stronger coordination, shared accountability and deliberate investment in young people. This framework provides an important platform for achieving those objectives,” Ma’aji said.

He reaffirmed the commission’s commitment to programmes and initiatives that create opportunities for youths and strengthen human capital development across the region.

The NWDC chief also urged stakeholders to ensure that resolutions reached at the summit are translated into practical actions capable of delivering measurable results.

Participants at the summit stressed the need for sustained collaboration between governments and youth groups to drive policy reforms, deepen inclusion and accelerate development across the North-West.

They also called for effective implementation of the commitments contained in the newly unveiled regional youth policy agenda.

The summit attracted government officials, development partners, civil society organisations, youth leaders and community stakeholders from across the seven North-West states.