The Executive Director of the Youth Society for the Prevention of Infectious Diseases and Social Vices (YOSPIS), Zainab Nasir Ahmad, has called on Kano State legislators to prioritize youth empowerment in the 2025 state budget.
Speaking at a recent press conference, Ahmad highlighted the importance of investing in Kano’s youth, citing the state’s large youth population, which is among the highest in Nigeria.
“Our young people are brimming with potential, creativity, and energy,” Ahmad said. “However, without sufficient resources to harness this potential, we risk turning their energy into frustration, which may lead to social unrest, unemployment, and other societal challenges.”
Ahmad argued that youth empowerment is not merely a moral obligation but a strategic investment that will shape the state’s future. She pointed out that empowered youth contribute to economic growth, drive innovation, and act as agents of positive change in their communities.
Despite these benefits, Ahmad noted that the current budget does not adequately address the challenges youth face.
“The budget allocation for youth empowerment and humanitarian programs is inadequate,” she said. “We face high rates of youth unemployment and underemployment, limited access to vocational training, and a rising tide of mental health and substance abuse issues.”
In response to these challenges, YOSPIS is demanding an increase in the 2025 budget allocation for youth empowerment.
The group is advocating for the establishment of vocational training centers, ICT hubs, and agricultural entrepreneurship programs aimed at supporting Kano’s repentant youth, particularly former thugs, known as “Tubabbun Yan Daba.”
“By investing in mental health services, counseling, and rehabilitation centers, we can provide the necessary support for youth dealing with substance abuse and mental health challenges,” Ahmad said.
YOSPIS also highlighted the need to strengthen humanitarian efforts, particularly in rural areas, by enhancing funding for social welfare programs that provide food security, healthcare, and education to vulnerable populations, including women, children, and displaced persons.
According to Ahmad, increased investment in youth empowerment and humanitarian programs will have far-reaching benefits.
“This will reduce unemployment, decrease crime rates and social vices, and build a healthier, more educated, and more self-reliant youth population,” she stated. “It will also create a more inclusive and prosperous society.”
While the current 1.63% allocation for the Ministry of Youth and Sports has been acknowledged as a step in the right direction, YOSPIS is urging the Kano State House of Assembly to increase this allocation for the 2025 budget.
“We recommend that the state prioritize youth empowerment, particularly for out-of-school youth and the over 600 repentant thugs, by investing in skills development, entrepreneurship, and gender equality,” Ahmad said.
YOSPIS further called for an increase in the allocation for the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, noting that the current 0.6% allocation is insufficient given the vast number of marginalized and vulnerable people across the state.
“Empowering our youth today is the key to building a better, more sustainable tomorrow for Kano State,” Ahmad concluded. “This is a pivotal moment in the state’s history. By committing more resources to youth empowerment and humanitarian initiatives, we can secure a brighter future for all.”
