News Desk, Abuja

The Centre of Community Awareness and Youth Empowerment Initiatives has organised a three-day dialogue aimed at strengthening citizens’ participation in governance and promoting accountability through digital platforms.

Addressing participants, the Programme Director of CAYEI, Yahuza Ismail, said the programme brought together community representatives, youth groups and other stakeholders to examine how public involvement can support sustainable development and improve relations between citizens and government institutions.

Ismail said civic engagement plays a critical role in building a healthy society, noting that when communities participate in decision-making processes, public officials are more likely to act responsibly, leading to improved public services.

The dialogue also highlighted the importance of participation in strengthening democratic structures. He stressed that when citizens are involved in governance processes, resources are directed to areas of genuine need and the will of the people is better reflected in policy decisions.

Participants from Jere, Maiduguri Metropolitan Council, Konduga and Mafa underscored the need to rebuild trust between citizens and institutions.

They observed that open communication and transparency enable residents to hold leaders accountable, thereby fostering confidence in public systems.

The organisation added that it seeks to empower and strengthen the capacity of grassroots communities and youth with relevant skills and information to enable them engage government officials and political aspirants constructively and hold them accountable.

Also speaking, participants and community leaders in Pompomari Kolo, Alhaji Bukar and Falmata Shehu Abdullahi, said the dialogue was timely considering its objectives.

They noted that the initiative forms part of efforts to promote constructive engagement through digital tools, particularly among young people, to ensure that communities remain active contributors to governance and development.