Youth Leaders in Edu Unveil Policy Paper as Governance by All Fellowship Concludes in Tsaragi
Youth Leaders in Edu Unveil Policy Paper as Governance by All Fellowship Concludes in Tsaragi
A new chapter in youth-led civic engagement and participatory governance was opened in Edu Local Government Area of Kwara State as the Governance by All Fellowship successfully concluded with a community engagement session and the public presentation of a policy paper developed by the fellows.
The fellowship, initiated by Uthman Qasim and supported by the Nigeria Youth Futures Fund (NYFF), brought together 30 young leaders drawn from various communities, youth associations and civil society groups across Edu Local Government Area. Over the course of the eight-month programme, participants received intensive training in democratic governance, public budgeting, accountability, transparency, policy advocacy, and community leadership.
The grand finale, held in Yana Kokona, Tsaragi, attracted community stakeholders, traditional leaders, youth representatives and members of the public who gathered to reflect on the fellowship's impact and explore practical pathways to strengthening governance at the grassroots.
A major highlight of the event was the unveiling of a policy paper titled "Strengthening Grassroots Governance through Youth Participation, Transparency and Accountability in Edu Local Government Area." The document captures the fellows' collective research, field observations and policy recommendations aimed at improving governance outcomes within the local government.
The policy paper identifies key governance challenges confronting communities, including limited citizen participation in public decision-making, inadequate transparency in the implementation of government projects, weak accountability mechanisms and insufficient youth representation in governance processes. It proposes practical recommendations such as institutionalising community budget dialogues, improving access to public information, strengthening collaboration between citizens and government institutions, promoting civic education and creating structured platforms for meaningful youth participation in policy formulation and implementation.
Speaking at the closing ceremony, the Project Lead, Uthman Qasim, described the fellowship as more than a leadership training programme, noting that it was designed to equip young people with the knowledge, skills and confidence to become active contributors to democratic governance.
He explained that sustainable development can only be achieved when citizens, particularly young people, understand governance processes and engage constructively with public institutions.
"Governance should never be viewed as the exclusive responsibility of elected officials. Every citizen has a role to play in demanding accountability, contributing ideas and working with institutions to build stronger communities. This fellowship was established to raise a new generation of informed and responsible civic leaders."
He further encouraged the graduating fellows to serve as ambassadors of accountability within their respective communities by initiating civic conversations, promoting transparency and inspiring more young people to participate in governance.
Participants expressed appreciation to the organisers and the Nigeria Youth Futures Fund for creating a platform that combined practical learning with community engagement. Many described the fellowship as transformative, saying it had broadened their understanding of governance and equipped them with practical advocacy tools to influence positive change.
Several community stakeholders also commended the initiative, describing it as timely and relevant in strengthening democratic participation at the grassroots. They urged government institutions, development partners and civil society organisations to support similar interventions that empower young people to contribute meaningfully to governance and community development.
Certificates of Completion were presented to the graduating fellows in recognition of their successful participation in the programme, while project coordinators and community engagement participants were also honoured for their contributions to the success of the initiative.
The successful conclusion of the Governance by All Fellowship marks the beginning of a growing network of young civic leaders committed to promoting transparency, accountability and inclusive governance across Edu Local Government Area and beyond.
Reported by Mohammed Alhaji Tauheed
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