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Youth Voices at the Center: Co-Creating Governance with Enugu’s New LGA Leaders

4 years. 1 Charter. 17 LGAs.

This is the beginning of a new chapter in grassroots governance in Enugu State, and South Saharan Social Development Organisation is proud to be part of that story.

Following the September 2024 Local Government Elections which is the first in years to be properly scheduled with widespread public awareness , newly elected Chairpersons and their deputies were sworn in with full administrative and financial autonomy, thanks to a landmark Supreme Court ruling in 2024.

This ruling extended LGA tenures to four years and granted unprecedented opportunities for long-term planning, transparency, and local development. But with great power must come great accountability and inclusion.

Bridging the Gap with the Youth Demand Charter

Before the dust of the elections had even settled, South Saharan Social Development Organisation, in partnership with ActionAid Nigeria under the SPA II Project and with support from the Enugu State Government, had already been listening. Through a participatory process involving young people across all 17 LGAs, we co-developed the Youth Demand Charter, a grassroots-driven list of urgent priorities.

  • Jobs.
  • Water.
  • Roads.
  • Healthcare.
  • Digital access.
  • Climate action.
  • Gender-responsive services.

These aren’t abstract goals. They are daily realities, and for over 60% of Enugu’s population under 35, they represent a future that’s been delayed too long.

Youth-Led Agenda Setting: From Demand to Design

On June 16 & 17, 2025, SSDO convened the Youth-Led Institutional Strengthening and Agenda Setting Meeting in Enugu. The 2-day workshop brought together:

  • All 17 newly elected LGA Chairpersons
  • Youth representatives and leaders from the 17 LGA’s in the State
  • Civil society organizations
  • Officials from the State Government and key MDAs

For the first time, youth didn’t just speak, they were heard.
And their Charter was presented not as a request, but as a governance tool.

The outcome? A commitment from LGA leaders to align their four-year development plans with youth-identified priorities, integrate inclusive policies into budgets, and open up sustained platforms for civic engagement.

What This Means Going Forward
This isn’t just a win for youth. It’s a win for governance that works. Studies show that increased youth participation leads to more effective policies and greater public trust. In a country where only 15% of governance structures include young people, this workshop sets a powerful precedent.

At SSDO, we believe that real change is designed, not demanded. The Youth Demand Charter is a blueprint for a more responsive, transparent, and inclusive future.

Next Steps: From Commitments to Action

We will continue to track implementation, support youth capacity building, and hold space for continuous dialogue between local government and the communities they serve.

Change has begun at the grassroots. And it started with youth.

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SSDO Strengthens Partnerships to End Gender-Based Violence

South Saharan Social Development Organisation (SSDO) welcomed a delegation from the Ford Foundation on a supervisory visit. This visit spotlighted the ongoing work under the Community Partnership for the Elimination of Gender-Based Violence (COMPEG) project, a vital initiative aimed at fostering safer, more equitable communities across our focus areas.

Listening to Impact, Learning from Experience

The Ford Foundation team spent time engaging closely with SSDO project staff, gaining a firsthand understanding of the work being done on the ground. More importantly, they connected with some of the women and girls whose lives have been directly impacted by COMPEG.

These intimate conversations revealed the transformative power of community-based support systems and the strength of survivors who continue to rise, rebuild, and reclaim their dignity.

Standing Together Against GBV

At SSDO, we believe that ending gender-based violence requires more than just interventions. It requires partnerships rooted in trust, shared values, and deep commitment. The Ford Foundation’s visit reaffirmed that belief and reminded us that we are not in this fight alone.

Their continued support fuels our resolve to break cycles of abuse, amplify survivor voices, and push for systemic change that protects and empowers women and girls.

Forward, Together
We are deeply grateful to the Ford Foundation for walking this journey with us. As we push forward, SSDO remains unwavering in our vision: communities where every woman and girl lives free from violence, with the freedom and tools to thrive.

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World Environment Day 2025: SSDO Amplifies Youth Voices on Climate Policy

Plastic is everywhere in our oceans, on our streets, in our food, and even inside our bodies. But it doesn’t have to be this way. The growing crisis of plastic pollution calls not just for awareness, but for bold, sustained action. It demands that young people who will inherit this planet are not left on the sidelines of environmental conversations.

To mark World Environment Day 2025, South Saharan Social Development Organisation (SSDO), through the SPA II Project, supported the Youth Climate Change Policy Dialogue – a timely and important space for youth to engage directly with the policy environment shaping Nigeria’s climate future.

A Youth-Driven Solution

The dialogue brought together passionate young advocates and government stakeholders in Enugu State. These conversations moved beyond surface-level awareness and tackled real questions of accountability, policy gaps, and implementation. The message was clear: Nigeria’s approach to plastic pollution must include the energy, insights, and leadership of its youth.

Young people are not just climate victims. They are thinkers, mobilizers, and changemakers and their input is vital if environmental policies are to be meaningful and inclusive.

A Shared Responsibility

At SSDO, we understand that plastic pollution is not only an environmental issue. It is a justice issue, a health issue, and a development issue. The Youth Climate Change Policy Dialogue was one step toward building a future where policy reflects people’s lived realities and where action is shaped by those most affected.

Everyone has a role to play. It begins with awareness but must lead to responsibility. From rejecting single-use plastics to pushing for stronger regulations, the choices we make daily and the conversations we start, matter deeply.

The Path Forward
As we reflect on this year’s World Environment Day, we are reminded that the cleanup starts with all of us. Change won’t happen overnight. But it will happen, one conversation, one policy, one less plastic at a time.

Let’s keep the momentum going.

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When Silence Hurts: SSDO Calls Out South East Leaders on JAMB Crisis

The 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) left many young people in South East Nigeria in distress. From server glitches to biometric errors and inexplicably low scores, the irregularities have disrupted futures and shaken public trust in the system.

But what’s even more concerning? The silence from the leaders who should be speaking out.

Speaking Up for Students

South Saharan Social Development Organisation (SSDO), in collaboration with other Civil Society Organisations, is leading the call for accountability. We have issued a formal statement urging South East Governors and Commissioners of Education to respond publicly and demand answers from the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB).

Thousands of students in the region have been impacted, and a hastily arranged supplementary exam has done little to restore confidence or provide fairness.

What We are Demanding

In our statement, we are calling for:

  • Public commitment from South East leaders to stand up for their constituents
  • A thorough and transparent investigation into the irregularities
  • A complete review of JAMB’s systems and processes
  • Emotional and academic support for affected students

This Is Bigger Than Exams
Education is not just about grades, it’s about equity, trust, and opportunity. When silence meets injustice, it amplifies harm. As a region known for its academic excellence, we must protect the dreams of our young people.

SSDO remains committed to advocacy that centers the rights, dignity, and future of our communities.

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Strengthening Ties for Impact: SSDO Hosts ACT Foundation in Enugu

At South Saharan Social Development Organisation (SSDO), partnerships are more than just collaboration, they are catalysts for meaningful change.

We were honoured to welcome the leadership team from Aspire Coronation Trust (ACT) Foundation to our Enugu office during their recent visit.

ACT Foundation, known for its commitment to strengthening the non-profit ecosystem across Africa, engages with local organisations to better understand on-the-ground realities, listen to frontline voices, and build impactful connections.

A Visit Rooted in Shared Vision

The visit was a rich opportunity to share our work, vision, and the challenges we navigate in areas such as youth empowerment, gender equity, governance, and health.

Our team highlighted how partnerships like these have amplified our reach and deepened our impact in communities across Enugu State and beyond.

Looking Ahead, Together

We deeply appreciate ACT Foundation’s approach to engaged philanthropy, one that values listening and co-creation as much as funding.

As we continue to grow our work and scale community solutions, we look forward to nurturing this relationship and driving sustainable change together.

Thank you for stopping by!