Zamfara Begins Work On State Youth Policy

Zamfara State has taken its first formal step toward developing a comprehensive State Youth Policy, following a high-level policy dialogue that brought together 41 representatives from government, civil society, youth groups, and persons with disabilities in Gusau.

The Zamfara State Youth Policy Dialogue Workshop was held under the Youth Leading Change Programme, implemented by Bridge Connect Africa Initiative with support from the Nigeria Youth Futures Fund, in collaboration with the Zamfara State Ministry of Youth and Sports Development.

The dialogue convened stakeholders to review the current state of youth development coordination in Zamfara and agree on foundational steps for a formal policy process.

The goal of the dialogue is a state youth policy framework that reflects local realities while aligning with Nigeria’s National Youth Policy.

Participants included senior government officials, youth-led organisations, civil society groups, and the Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities, Zamfara State Chapter.

At the event held in Gusau on Thursday, the chief operating officer of Bridge Connect Africa Initiative, Fatima Musa Aliyu, said the engagement is part of a broader push across the North-West.

“This State Dialogue forms part of a broader regional strategy. The commissioner for Youth and Sports Development has reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to a structured, youth-driven process.

“Young people should not only be beneficiaries of development initiatives but active agents of change in shaping their communities”.

“We are here for the youth, and these opportunities are fully open and accessible to them,” he added.

Discussions at the dialogue focused on the need for a unified framework to strengthen coordination, improve planning, and ensure consistent implementation of youth interventions across sectors.

Stakeholders also examined gaps in youth participation, access to economic opportunities, and inclusive development.

Particular emphasis was placed on the meaningful inclusion of persons with disabilities in the emerging policy process.

The session recognised contributions from members of the Northwest Youth Development Consortium in Zamfara, including Rescue Future Generation Charity Initiative, JONAPWD Zamfara Chapter, and Zamfara Youth Lead. Their presence underscored the push for a participatory approach.

The executive director of Rescue Future Generation Charity Initiative, Zakariyya Haruna Liman, stressed that the real test lies ahead.

“A policy only becomes meaningful when it moves beyond paper and begins to shape real lives. This is our chance to turn intention into impact for the youth of Zamfara State,” he said.

To maintain momentum, participants were grouped into six technical working clusters tasked with developing an initial action plan and mapping priority steps for the next phase of the policy process.

The dialogue ended with a shared commitment to sustained collaboration toward a comprehensive and inclusive state youth policy framework aligned with national youth development priorities.