By Philip Yatai

Aid Foundation, an NGO, said it mobilised 5,599 youths and women and other community members for active participation in governance and community development across Kaduna State in 2019.

The Executive Director of the organisation, Mr Emmanuel Bonet, disclosed this during and event organised to present the foundation’s successes and challenges in the outgoing year.

Bonet said that the people were mobilised to take part in election, peace building and mediation, climate change, anti-corruption and youth development.

He said, “At least 5,599 community youths and women groups were galvanised to participate in community development charter and up right for Nigeria campaign against corruption.’’

He further said that at least one million people were reached on Twitter and other social media platforms created to strengthen citizen’s engagement in governance.

He also said that 1,493 corps members, 12 political parties and 14 media houses were also engaged on issues around governance, youth development and peace building.

Bonet listed the first Open Government Partnership and Corruption Perception Survey in the state and establishment of platforms for quarterly town hall meetings as some of the key achievements of the organisation.

Other achievements included the establishment of Integrity Committees in 255 political wards of the state and deployment of 623 volunteers, who monitored the 2019 general elections.

He said that the group also trained 35 youths, eight religious’ leaders, 14 opinion leaders, 12 security operatives on peace building and mediation.

“So, looking back 12 months, I think we did pretty well, because citizens are now asking more questions around good governance, becoming more involved and demanding for quality services,” Bonet said.

He distributed the successes recorded in the year to huge support and partnership of the state government and other relevant stakeholders.

He said that his organisation would focus on youth empowerment programme with emphasis on civic technology, anti-corruption as well as data generation and analysis.