To provide an avenue for youth and children’s voices to be heard, the Kano Network of NGOs organized a workshop on the topic “Investing in Our Youth: Strategic Pathways for Sustainable Development in Kano State.”
The workshop held on Thursday last week in Kano aims to foster strategic discussions and collaborations that will pave the way for sustainable development by empowering the youth and addressing the challenges they face.
In his opening remarks, the chairman of the KANET steering committee, Mr. Musa Abdullahi Sufi, expressed that the youth are enthusiastic about the state’s development and will contribute significantly if given the opportunity.
According to him, KANET has been a platform to amplify voices for Kano citizens through non-governmental organizations and highlights the importance of sustainable endeavors since its inception.
As a guest speaker for the quarterly lecture series, the Executive Director of Youth Society for the Prevention of Infectious and Social Vices (YOSPIS), Zainab Nasir Ahmad, highlighted the challenges faced by youth in her presentation, “The Situation of Youth in Kano State and Neglect in Investing in Their Future.”
Zainab added that some challenges youth encounter in Kano State are linked to unemployment, drug abuse, lack of awareness, educational barriers, mental health issues, and lack of mentorship.
To address these issues, the government and NGOs need to collaborate to provide rehabilitation centers, establish youth-focused trust funds, empower entrepreneurship, and other methods to curb these problems in the state.
Additionally, Hauwa Muhammad, a speaker from the Kano Children’s Parliament, stated that the objective behind establishing the children’s parliament was to promote children’s rights and encourage active participation in civic life.
As many states with children’s parliaments face challenges, Kano State also deals with issues such as child labor, poor access to quality education, violence and abuse, and lack of health accessibility, she said.
Addressing these challenges by leveraging available opportunities, the Kano State government and NGOs should include the children’s parliament through social protection programs, empowerment, policy advocacy, and collaborations with partners willing to improve the children’s future.
The workshop witnessed the presence of youth and children-led organizations, government officials, relevant stakeholders, and media.
