By: Monday Danladi, Bauchi
The draft Bauchi State Youth Policy towards an inclusive, responsive and sustainable framework for youth development, has been reviewed and validated by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), in partnership with the Office of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Ministry of Youth and Sports Development.
The disbursement is marking a significant milestone in establishing a definitive framework for youth-related programming across the state.
The reviewed and validated policy will serve as a definitive framework for all youth-related interventions and programming in the State, aligning with the Bauchi State Development Plan and UNFPA’s mandate and its 2026–2029 Strategic Plan to support governments in empowering adolescents and young people to achieve their full potential.
The document was reviewed and validated during a two-day review meeting with key stakeholders including youth led organizations, faith based organizations, agency for persons with disability, security agency, Academia, International organizations, NYSC, Students of Tertiary Institutions, Private sector organizations, Civil Society Organizations, relevant government Ministries.
It marks a critical milestone for the Bauchi State government in empowering its youthful population to drive the shift toward harnessing their potential for overall development through strategic investments.
With UNFPA support, the policy development process commenced in October 2024 through consultations across 20 Local Government Areas with youth-led organizations, CSOs, government agencies, and persons with disabilities.
Following this, a drafting workshop in October 2025 structured these inputs ahead of the 2026 review, consolidating stakeholder perspectives to strengthen implementation pathways, institutional accountability, and local ownership.
The 2026 review meeting also provided an opportunity to consolidate stakeholder perspectives and strengthen policy ownership among government institutions, development partners, CSOs, and young people, including People with Disabilities.
By formalizing this policy foundation, Bauchi State government reinforces its commitment to sustainable, evidence-based youth development and meaningful participation.
