Young leaders, government officials and development partners have converged in Kaduna for the Northwest Youth Summit 2026.
The summit marked the culmination of the year long Youth Leading Change Programme (YLCP) aimed at strengthening youth leadership and policy engagement.
The programme was organised by Bridge Connect Africa Initiative (BCAI) with support from the Nigeria Youth Futures Fund (NYFF).
Participants were drawn from Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Sokoto and Zamfara States.
Speaking at the opening on Saturday, BCAI Executive Director, Sani Muhammad, described the summit as a milestone in advancing youth development.
Muhammad said the programme trained 35 fellows in civic engagement, policy advocacy and stakeholder coordination.
He added that 21 youth led organisations were strengthened through the Northwest Youth Development Consortium.
According to him, the initiative promotes collaboration and collective action on governance priorities across the region.
He said state level policy dialogue workshops enabled stakeholders to assess policies and identify implementation gaps.
Muhammad noted that the discussions also produced practical strategies for addressing youth development challenges.
He said the summit would consider and endorse the Northwest Youth Policy Agenda.
According to him, the agenda reflects shared regional priorities and outlines strategies for implementation.
He said it would enhance coordination among institutions working on youth development in the region.
Muhammad stressed the importance of involving young people as partners in governance.
He said youths had demonstrated capacity in policy discussions, community development and accountability processes.
He urged participants to build partnerships and translate commitments into meaningful outcomes.
Also speaking, Managing Director of the North West Development Commission (NWDC), Prof. Shehu Ma’aji, endorsed the regional approach.
Ma’aji said the region faced challenges requiring stronger institutions and innovative policies.
He noted that youths across the Northwest continued to demonstrate resilience, innovation and leadership.
According to him, young people are actively driving development in their communities.
Ma’aji commended BCAI, NYFF, Kaduna State Ministry of Youth Development and youth agencies for organising the summit.
He described the summit theme as timely and relevant to the region’s development aspirations.
The NWDC boss said the regional youth agenda reflected the collective voices and priorities of communities.
He added that its endorsement would provide a framework for coordinated and impactful youth development.
Ma’aji reaffirmed the commission’s commitment to expanding opportunities and building human capital.
He said young people should be recognised as architects of the region’s future.
Welcoming participants, Kaduna State Commissioner for Youth Development, Gloria Ibrahim, stressed the need for collaboration.
Ibrahim said sustainable youth development depended on strong institutions and responsive policies.
She reaffirmed Kaduna State’s commitment to promoting youth participation and institutional partnerships.
The commissioner urged participants to share experiences and develop practical solutions for regional challenges.
Organisers said the summit would focus on endorsing the regional policy agenda and securing government commitments.
They added that it would also showcase youth leadership initiatives and establish a framework for monitoring progress.
According to the organisers, the summit seeks to ensure agreed actions translate into measurable improvements for youths across Northwest Nigeria.