Youth, Education, and Accountability Take Center Stage at Bauchi Narrative Live Session

By Sadiya Abdulhamid (NJFP Fellow at Albarka Radio)

Bauchi – Calls for a new approach to youth empowerment and good governance resonated strongly at the Bauchi Narrative Live Session, held virtually on Friday, September 12, 2025, with the theme “The Next Bauchi: Youth Progress, Shortfalls, and the Path Forward.”

The session, which brought together a powerhouse panel of experts and youth voices—including a Youth Development Advocate, a Social Entrepreneur and Innovator, an Education and Skills Specialist, and a Policy and Community Engagement Expert—was moderated by a seasoned community outreach officer. It provided a platform for constructive dialogue on how Bauchi State can leverage its vibrant youth population to shape a more inclusive and sustainable future.

Among the notable contributors was Muhammad Sani Muazu, a Registered Animal Scientist, who underscored education as the single most important factor in transforming the fortunes of Bauchi’s youth and economy.

According to him, education should go beyond certificates and be repositioned as a tool for opening minds, building skills, and nurturing innovators.

“Without education, everything else—including agriculture, which I am proud of—will remain stuck in traditional practices. We need educated farmers, educated politicians, and educated youth who can apply modern techniques, analyze markets, and use data and technology to improve productivity,” Muazu said.

Using agriculture as an example, he explained that educated farmers are better equipped to apply fertilizer correctly, manage pests sustainably, reduce post-harvest losses, and adapt to climate change. He further called for a curriculum overhaul that integrates agriculture, entrepreneurship, and vocational training into formal education.

“Many young people graduate with degrees but cannot solve everyday problems. Our schools must prepare youths with practical skills. Education is the priority that will give us the next Bauchi we want to see,” he concluded.

On his part, Adamu Ibrahim Aliyu, a Data Scientist and Accountability Expert, stressed that poverty and underdevelopment in Bauchi cannot be separated from issues of governance and accountability. He argued that while statistics highlight the scale of poverty, the root cause lies in lack of responsibility across both leadership and citizenry.

“Accountability is the cornerstone of any society that wants to rise above mediocrity and injustice. Unfortunately, lack of accountability breeds bad governance, which in turn sustains poverty. But accountability is not just for those in power—it begins with each of us,” Aliyu noted.

He lamented the culture of praise-singing for political leaders despite poor performance, warning that failure to hold leaders accountable undermines democracy.

“If leaders are wrong, we must say they are wrong. We cannot apply a ‘muje mu ha’ [let’s just manage it] attitude to governance, because that would make democracy no different from military rule. Constructive accountability is what will deliver good governance, and good governance will end poverty,” he stressed.

Aliyu also highlighted the need for youths to embrace productivity and self-reliance instead of overdependence on government jobs. He praised the growing wave of young entrepreneurs in Bauchi, citing examples of graduates venturing into services such as laundry, agribusiness, and digital innovations.

“If we want to create wealth, we must think outside the box and mingle with right-minded people. Opportunities don’t always exist—you sometimes have to create them. The narrative in Bauchi is changing, and I believe in no time, we will see more young millionaires and billionaires emerging from this state,” he added.

The Bauchi Narrative Live Session concluded with a shared understanding that the state’s progress depends on educated, innovative, and accountable young people who are willing to lead change from the grassroots.

Participants agreed that the path forward for Bauchi lies in a collective commitment to transform education, foster entrepreneurship, and hold both leaders and citizens accountable in the journey toward sustainable development.