Kaduna State is moving to end its reliance on foreign donors for life skills education by incorporating such programmes into official government policy. At a stakeholders' validation workshop in Kaduna, the state's Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Internal Security and Home Affairs, Mallam Bashir Muhammad, stated that continued dependence on donor funding threatens the long-term survival of critical youth empowerment initiatives. He emphasized that without formal integration into state policy, life skills education programmes risk collapse once donor funding ends. The new sustainability policy aims to ensure consistent funding, coordination, and implementation through government structures rather than external aid.
Mallam Bashir Muhammad stressed the need for institutional ownership, noting that donor-driven projects often cease when funding dries up, leaving gaps in youth development efforts. The policy framework presented at the workshop outlines mechanisms for mainstreaming life skills education into state planning and budgeting processes. Stakeholders, including education officials, civil society representatives, and development partners, were invited to review and contribute to the final draft. The state government plans to adopt the policy formally following the validation process. No specific timeline for full implementation was disclosed.
When Mallam Bashir Muhammad warns that donor-funded programmes risk collapse, he is acknowledging a flaw embedded in years of development aid reliance — sustainability was never part of the design. By institutionalising life skills education into policy, Kaduna is not just shifting funding models but asserting control over its development agenda. This move could set a precedent for other states that treat donor projects as permanent solutions. If implemented with consistent budgetary support, it may mark the beginning of a more self-reliant approach to social programming in northern Nigeria.
