Kaduna Youths Demand Bigger Role in State Contracts

By Uangbaoje Alex, Kaduna

Kaduna youths have issued a strong call for inclusion in the state’s contracting space, demanding that government give them a bigger slice of public procurement. 

The demand came at the launch of the Students/Youths Community of Practice on Open Contracting, organized by the Kaduna State Public Procurement Authority (KADPPA).

The young participants insisted that youth-led businesses should become frontline suppliers, procurement students absorbed into agencies, and that special grants and contracts be created for youth startups. 

They also pressed for mentorship, capacity-building, and greater involvement in procurement oversight and budget planning.

KADPPA’s Director General, Engr. Sanusi Yero, while responding, assurances that the state has already reserved portions of contracts for women, youths, and persons with disabilities. 

He revealed that registration costs and other entry fees have been slashed, and a dedicated desk established to guide young entrepreneurs and ensure they benefit from the system.

Yero urged the youths to sustain their energy by actively monitoring government processes, warning that reforms can only endure with consistent pressure from citizens.

“When officials know youths and civil society are checking, questioning, and following up, they will be duty-bound to do the right thing,” he said.

Citizens’ Co-Chair on Open Contracting, Stephen Waya, hailed the creation of the Community of Practice as a landmark step. 

He challenged the youths to be bold, innovative, and relentless in demanding accountability, describing them as both “the present and the future” of governance.

The initiative is the first of its kind in Nigeria, positioning Kaduna youths at the forefront of a transparency drive that could redefine how government contracts are managed.