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A bold new chapter in youth civic leadership opened today in Makurdi as the NOBUL Africa Foundation, with support from the Nigeria Youth Futures Fund (NYFF), officially launched the Institutional Accountability & Transparency (i-ACT) Project. The initiative, described as the first of its kind in Benue State, is designed to move young people beyond theoretical learning into direct institutional engagement and policy innovation.

Speaking at the launch, Soohemba Agatha Aker, Executive Director of NOBUL Africa Foundation, emphasized that the programme comes at a critical moment for Benue, a state that has endured years of violent attacks, mass displacement, and humanitarian crises. She noted that these shocks have disrupted livelihoods, fractured communities, and left young people grappling with the consequences of fragile governance systems.

“Benue youth are not dealing with abstract governance failures,” Aker said. “They are living the reality of displacement, stalled public services, and weak accountability structures. i-ACT is our response to these challenges, equipping young people with the tools to understand how institutions function and to design practical policy solutions that address the problems they see every day.”

The project’s launch coincides with the state government’s renewed focus on digital inclusion and youth empowerment, creating what Aker described as a “crucial moment” to connect young citizens with the real levers of governance. She stressed that the programme also aligns with ongoing national conversations on anti-corruption and public accountability.

Unlike conventional short-term workshops, i-ACT introduces a distinctive three-phase model that blends capacity building, institutional immersion, and policy innovation. Participants will begin with an intensive three-day training camp focused on civic engagement, accountability tools, and policy advocacy. From there, selected fellows will spend two months embedded within public institutions, observing daily operations, identifying opportunities for reform, and building working relationships with officials. The final stage will see fellows transform their lived insights into evidence-based policy recommendations, which they will present directly to decision-makers at a policy summit.

“This learn–immerse–innovate model is deliberately practical,” Aker explained. “We are not just training youth to ask questions; we are preparing them to remain in the room where decisions are made and to propose workable solutions.”

The anticipated impact of i-ACT, she said, is to cultivate a generation of young leaders who can identify gaps in public service delivery, engage constructively with government officials, and design policy recommendations rooted in real-world experience. By embedding interns within institutions, the programme also offers agencies fresh perspectives and evidence-based proposals from a younger demographic.

Applications for the inaugural cohort open on September 23 and close on October 14, 2025. The programme is open to Benue residents aged 18 to 35, with a strong emphasis on inclusivity. NOBUL is particularly encouraging applications from women, persons with disabilities, youth from low-income and conflict-affected communities, and under-represented local government areas.

Aker concluded her address with a call to action, urging young people to seize the opportunity: “Sitting at the edge of governance is no longer an option for Benue youth. i-ACT gives young people the knowledge to interrogate systems, the access to experience those systems, and the platform to advocate for change. That is how we move from grievance to the reform we all desire.”

The NOBUL Africa Foundation, a youth-led nonprofit, has built a reputation for advancing youth inclusion in leadership by combining skills training with practical engagements that allow young leaders to influence systems. Its partnership with the Nigeria Youth Futures Fund, which supports youth-focused innovation and leadership across the country, has made the i-ACT Project possible, offering a new model of practical youth engagement in Benue State.

With the launch of i-ACT, Benue’s young people now stand at the threshold of a transformative opportunity to shape governance, strengthen accountability, and drive reforms that respond directly to the realities of their communities.

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