Bridge Connect

In Sokoto State, youth policy conversations are gradually moving beyond discussions into more coordinated engagement and implementation.

Through the Youth Leading Change Programme (YLCP), supported by the Nigeria Youth Futures Fund (Naijayouthfund ), in collaboration with the Ministry of Youth and Sports Development advocacy visits and a multi-stakeholder Youth Policy Dialogue brought together government institutions, civil society organizations, youth groups, and development actors to examine the current realities of youth development and policy implementation in the state.

The engagement highlighted important progress, including the domestication of the National Youth Policy in Sokoto State and growing government commitment toward youth development. Discussions also identified gaps in policy awareness, coordination, inclusion, and access to opportunities, particularly for rural youth and persons with disabilities.

The dialogue strengthened collaboration between government stakeholders, CSOs, and youth-led organizations, while creating space for practical recommendations on improving policy implementation and institutional coordination.

The engagement also highlighted the importance of ensuring that young people are actively involved in governance, accountability, and policy processes within their communities.

We appreciate the continued support of Naijayouthfund supporting youth-led engagement and strengthening inclusive policy conversations across Northern Nigeria.

In our continued effort to strengthen systems, improve accountability, and advance survivor-centered responses, Bridge Connect Africa, through the WAVES II Project supported by the Ambassade de France au Nigéria convened a two-day Training of Trainers (ToT) workshop in Kano State to strengthen GBV data reporting and dashboard management.

The training was delivered in partnership with the Federal Ministry of women affairs and Kano State Ministry of women affairs, children, and people with special needs.

The participants included government officials, CSOs, security agencies, and development partners in Kano including members of the state technical working group in GBV to build technical capacity on the use of the National GBV Dashboard and improve coordination in GBV response systems.

Beyond data entry, the workshop focused on promoting evidence-based decision-making, improving reporting accuracy, and strengthening institutional frameworks for addressing violence against women and girls.

As stakeholders continue to tackle underreporting and weak data utilization, this effort marks another important step toward ensuring that GBV data is not only collected, but effectively used to drive action, accountability, and policy reforms across Kano State.