Nine months after its domestication, the Enugu State government, in collaboration with its partner South Saharan Social Development Organisation (SSDO), has initiated a review of the state's youth policy. The aim is to deepen understanding and improve the implementation of its frameworks.
Stakeholders' Engagement
Speaking at a stakeholders' engagement that drew representatives of youths from the 17 local government areas of the state, SSDO's Head of Programmes, Udochukwu Egwim, explained that the policy, domesticated in August 2025, remains valid until 2029. He stated that the review was not to introduce new ideas into the policy, but to make youths and various ministries, departments, and agencies more acquainted with its provisions and their responsibilities, thereby accelerating better implementation.
"This policy has been domesticated since August 2025. But we want to look at the sequence. We want to look at what can be drawn out from the frameworks to ensure that all parties are able to know their roles, that young people are able to know the provisions of the policy, and also understand how to engage with it. We know that the government put in a lot of effort and resources with development partners to develop this document. So we are looking at how to ensure that the people who own this policy (youths) also understand how to engage with it. We also have ministries, departments, and agencies; we want to make them understand their roles and understand that this document does not belong to one ministry alone," he said.
Preparation for 2027 Budget Cycle
Egwim noted that the programme, supported by ActionAid Nigeria and the Danish International Development Agency (DANIDA), was timely and targeted at preparing youths for the 2027 budget cycle. He lamented the absence of effective reporting structures to monitor implementation of the policy, stressing that local governments and ministries were expected to submit reports on youth-related programmes to the Ministry of Youth and Sports. "We cannot accurately assess progress because reporting mechanisms have not been fully operationalized," he stated.
Youth Parliament President's Remarks
The President of the Enugu State Youth Parliament, Chibuike Okechi, described the policy as an important document that addresses issues affecting youths of Enugu State, stressing that the engagement would further shed light on how youths would benefit from it. He added that the platform would also unite youths in finding solutions to challenges affecting them in their different communities.
Ministry Official's Satisfaction
Also, a Director in the State Ministry of Youth and Sports, Chidinma Ezezuo, expressed satisfaction that the state government approved a youth policy for the state, stressing it was an indication that the government was interested in their welfare. "Before now, we relied on the national policy to implement youth programmes, but today, we are using the Enugu State policy, which makes implementation easier and more effective. With a platform now created to deepen its understanding, I believe the youths will benefit more from the government," she stated.
