Youth representatives from the 19 northern states and the Federal Capital Territory gathered in Kaduna on Wednesday to review President Bola Tinubu’s policies and assess their impact ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The meeting, organised by the Arewa Political Awareness Movement, served as a civic engagement forum aimed at evaluating government performance and encouraging informed participation in democratic processes.
Convener of the group, Jabir Usman, said the initiative was designed to promote accountability and ensure citizens understand government programmes rather than rely on political narratives.
He stressed that leadership should be judged by tangible results, adding that democracy works best when citizens are actively engaged and well informed.
Usman said the forum focused on reviewing reforms across key sectors including education, healthcare, security, agriculture, infrastructure and the economy, noting that participants observed significant progress in several areas under the current administration.
On education, he highlighted the National Education Loan Fund, which he said is helping students from low-income backgrounds access tertiary education without financial barriers.
He also referenced a new pension arrangement for retired university professors, which aligns their pension benefits with their final salaries, describing it as a step toward improving morale in the academic sector.
According to him, new federal universities established in parts of the North, including Kachia in Kaduna State, Azare in Bauchi State, Tsafe in Zamfara State and Funtua in Katsina State, are expected to strengthen access to specialised higher education.
Usman further pointed to the 3 Million Technical Talent programme, which aims to train millions of young Nigerians in digital skills such as artificial intelligence, cloud computing and data science by 2027.
He said many young people are already benefiting from the initiative through training, tools and exposure to global technology opportunities.
In the health sector, he praised reforms in emergency medical response services, including the restructuring of ambulance systems that provide free emergency transport and initial care within critical hours of admission.
He also noted improvements in primary healthcare, stating that over 1,000 centres have been revitalised while thousands more are planned, alongside an increase in health insurance coverage nationwide.
On agriculture, he said government investment in agricultural development funding is aimed at boosting food production and reducing dependence on imports, while a new livestock development ministry is helping modernise animal husbandry and address farmer-herder tensions.
Security reforms under the administration were also highlighted, with Usman noting improved coordination among security agencies and intensified operations against criminal groups in parts of northern Nigeria.
He added that economic and infrastructure reforms, including monetary policy adjustments, local government financial autonomy and ongoing transport projects, are contributing to improved business confidence and job creation.
Speaking at the event, a senior aide to the Kaduna State Deputy Governor, Muktar Zubairu, urged young people to take advantage of government programmes and actively participate in elections.
He encouraged youths to register to vote, engage in governance and avoid being used for political manipulation, stressing the importance of responsible civic participation.
The forum ended with calls for greater youth involvement in governance and continued evaluation of government policies as preparations begin ahead of the 2027 elections.
