Kano State government, in collaboration with the Center for Awareness on Justice and Accountability (CAJA), has signed the Youth Development Advocacy Cluster, a policy framework that will guide commitments to youth development in the state. The outgoing commissioner of Sports and Youth Development, Kabiru Lakwaya, applauded the ingenuity of CAJA and other stakeholders in the cluster for complementing government efforts with the formation of a master plan on youth development. Lakwaya emphasized that the development of Nigerian society cannot be overemphasized. Youth productivity needs to be guided to achieve the desired development. He also noted that signing the policy is timely as youth restiveness had become a source of concern, adding that the move would address social problems associated with youths towards achieving greater development of the state and the nation as a whole. CAJA’s Executive Director, Kabiru Dakata, advocated for effective implementation of the newly developed youth development policy framework in Kano to address youth restiveness and other mundane challenges facing the younger generation in the state. Dakata emphasized the increasing number of youths who lack basic means of sustenance for their livelihood and the prevalence of drug abuse, unemployment, theft and other negative tendencies rampant amongst the youth. Dakata explained that CAJA has collaborated with relevant youth organizations and other stakeholders with support from Youth Alive Foundation and USAID to develop a comprehensive policy framework that addresses the peculiar issues bothering the youth in the state. Addressing the issue of restiveness is of utmost importance, and the Kano state government must ensure full implementation of the policy framework to provide sustainable means of livelihood for the growing youth community and prevent restiveness.
