The Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning Officer of the Nigeria Youth Futures Fund (NYFF), Richard Chidiebere, on Thursday commended efforts to promote youth inclusion in governance in Gombe State, urging stakeholders to ensure sustained implementation of youth-focused policies.
Chidiebere made the remarks at the end of a two-day workshop titled “Empowering Youth to Drive Youth Policy Implementation for Inclusive Governance in Gombe State,” organised by the Foundation for Community Empowerment Initiative (FOCEI) with support from NYFF.
He, alongside his team, was in the state to monitor and evaluate projects funded by his organisation at FOCEI’s office in the Federal Low-Cost area of Gombe.
Speaking during an interactive session with participants at the Hajiyya Amina Hall venue of the day-two workshop, Chidiebere praised the initiative and the role of young people in advancing policy development.
“I want to say well done to FOCEI for this very innovative idea. We are impressed with the work youths have done in Gombe State,” he said.
“I learned that before now, there was no domesticated youth policy in the state, but thanks to the work being championed by Dr Ben and his team, we are beginning to see a youth policy that is not only domesticated but also being implemented. On behalf of the Nigeria Youth Futures Fund, I say congratulations and well done.”
He, however, stressed the need for sustained action beyond policy formulation.
“We hope the policy goes beyond being another document on the shelf or merely passed into law. It should ensure that young people are part of decision-making bodies, not just in Gombe but across the country,” he added.
Also speaking, Policy Advocacy Expert, Silas Defe, delivered a presentation on “How to Engage Policymakers and Influence Youth Policy Implementation,” where he outlined key strategies for effective advocacy.
“Be respectful and professional, be clear and concise, use evidence to support your message, and always follow up after engagements,” Defe advised.
He cautioned against counterproductive approaches, noting that, “Advocates should avoid confrontational methods, unclear demands, and making unrealistic promises.”
In his presentation on collaboration, Development Expert, Amnon Jonathan, emphasised the importance of partnerships in achieving advocacy goals.
“Collaboration between civil society organisations and youth groups is imperative for achieving meaningful results. Partnerships are key to driving inclusive and sustainable governance,” he said.
Similarly, Media Expert, Mark Malele, highlighted the role of digital tools in strengthening youth advocacy.
“Digital tools can be used to amplify the voices of your campaigns. They can be tailored to meet specific stakeholders and are highly useful, yet many of us are not fully utilising their importance in driving our message,” Malele noted.
The workshop brought together youth leaders, civil society actors, and development experts to strengthen capacity for policy engagement and promote inclusive governance in Gombe State.
