Hunger is more than just a lack of food; it is a crisis that affects lives, weakens communities, and hinders progress. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), over 733 million people worldwide suffered from hunger in 2023, with Sub-Saharan Africa being one of the hardest-hit regions. Katsina State, in northwestern Nigeria, faces serious food insecurity due to economic challenges, inflation, and insecurity. About 50% of the state’s population struggles to get enough food, especially in rural areas. Bandit attacks, conflicts, and displacement have made it even harder for people to farm and feed their families. To tackle this crisis, the Africa Youth Growth Foundation (AYGF), in partnership with the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP), launched the General Food Assistance – Cash-Based Transfers (GFA-CBT) Project. This program helps families by giving them direct financial support instead of just handing out food, allowing them to buy what they need based on their dietary requirements. With 79,920 beneficiaries across five Local Government Areas (LGAs)—Batsari, Danmusa, Dutsinma, Safana, and Kurfi—the project provides both financial assistance and essential food items. Each individual gets ₦11,800 per month, plus an extra ₦400 for cooking fuel, while a family of five can receive ₦61,000 monthly. This support ensures that people have both money to buy food and direct access to key food supplies. Pregnant women, nursing mothers, and children under two need extra nutrition. That’s why this project includes nutrition top-ups through a voucher-based system, helping these vulnerable groups stay healthy and reducing malnutrition in the region. The project doesn’t just help individuals; it also supports the economy. By working with 75 local vendors across the five LGAs, AYGF ensures that food is readily available while also creating business opportunities. When families have money to buy food, businesses grow, and the economy strengthens. Managing such a large project requires careful planning. To ensure transparency and efficiency, AYGF and WFP held a training program for field officers on January 11-12 at the General Hospital Katsina Multipurpose Hall. This training covered cash distribution, data collection, and proper engagement with beneficiaries, ensuring that aid reaches those who need it fairly and securely. AYGF has a strong history of fighting hunger and poverty in Nigeria. The GFA-CBT project in Katsina is a shining example of how strategic partnerships can make a real difference. With continued support from WFP and other stakeholders, thousands of families now have a renewed sense of hope. This project is not just about giving out cash; it’s about restoring dignity, empowering communities, and ensuring that every person has the right to food. As AYGF continues its mission, one thing is certain: where there is action, there is hope.

Someone said it’s about time we brought down the Christmas lights!—festivities might be over, but our commitment to supporting vulnerable communities, and making an impact continues! As we step into a new year filled with hope and opportunities, our team at AYGF continued with the Nigeria Police Force Reform Initiative Phase II which kickstarted in December, 2024. This initiative is targeted towards enhancing police-public relations and mutual accountability through the establishment of Police-Community Dialogues, focusing on sensitization and awareness creation.  Also, the AYGF team paid a courtesy visit to the TY Danjuma Foundation at their office in Abuja, Nigeria on the 16th of January. This visit provided an opportunity to discuss areas of mutual interests and explore potential partnerships. In the same spirit, we also invite you to join us in reflecting on the importance of global solidarity and humanitarian values. This January, we’ll be starting off with commemorating the International Day of Education on the 24th of January. This reminds us to reflect on the power of education to equip individuals and communities navigate, understand and influence technological advancement under the theme “AI and education: Preserving human agency in a world of automation” We have a line-up of impactful initiatives, activities, events, and projects and we look forward to exploring, partnering, and working with all our stakeholders, partners, volunteers, and social media comunity to keep driving a positive change in 2025. MUTUAL ACCOUNTABILITY AND COMMUNITY SCORECARD INITIATIVE Building Bridges for Better Security: Objectives and Outcomes of the Mutual Accountability and Community Scorecard Initiative Mistrust and miscommunication often hinder effective collaboration between law enforcement agencies and the communities they serve. To bridge this gap, the Mutual Accountability and Community Scorecard Initiative was launched, focusing on fostering trust, encouraging open dialogue, and promoting shared responsibility for public safety. Through targeted efforts, this initiative sought to create an environment where police and community members could work together toward sustainable security solutions. With this vision in mind, the initiative set clear objectives to guide its implementation: Objectives: By achieving these objectives, the initiative produced impactful results that strengthened the relationship between police and communities: Outcomes: POTENTIAL PARTNERSHIPS On the 16th of this month , the African Youth Growth Foundation (AYGF) paid a courtesy visit to the TY Danjuma Foundation at their office in Abuja, Nigeria. The AYGF delegation was warmly received by the Chief Executive Officer of the Foundation, Mr. Gima H. Forje, along with his esteemed team. This visit provided an opportunity to discuss areas of mutual interests and explore potential partnerships. This interaction marks a significant step toward strengthening collaboration and amplifying the positive impact on the communities we serve. KEY INTERNATIONAL DAYS IN JANUARY 1. January 24 – International Day of Education Education is a fundamental right and a gateway to building sustainable and equitable societies. This year’s theme, “AI and education: Preserving human agency in a world of automation”, highlights the need to strike a balance between technological advancements and humanity’s essential role in education. As artificial intelligence continues to transform how we learn and teach, the theme emphasizes the importance of keeping humans at the center of the process, ensuring that AI enhances rather than diminishes creativity, critical thinking, and decision-making. It calls for the ethical use of AI, urging education systems to adapt in ways that empower learners and educators while safeguarding values like originality, empathy, collaboration, and moral reasoning. By prioritizing human agency, this theme invites us to design educational solutions where technology complements, rather than replaces, the human touch, preparing individuals to thrive in an increasingly automated world. Why It Matters: Nearly 244 million children and youth worldwide are out of school, with many facing barriers like poverty, conflict, and discrimination. This day is a call to action to prioritize education and create opportunities for all—especially for marginalized groups. Our Role: At AYGF, we are dedicated to empowering underserved communities through impactful educational initiatives. Our efforts focus on advocating for safe learning environments, ensuring access to quality education for children, and reintegrating out-of-school children into the classroom—an endeavor we passionately drive through the BLOOM Education Project. Click here to catch a glimpse of the BLOOM project launch. Final Thoughts As we embrace the possibilities of 2025, let us carry forward the spirit of compassion and collaboration. Together, we can turn awareness into action and build a future where everyone has the opportunity to thrive. Thank you for standing with us as we strive to make a difference—one day, one life, and one community at a time. Enjoyed this post? Stay inspired with more exclusive updates, and insights delivered straight to your inbox. Subscribe to our monthly newsletter here for more detailed  insights, fresh ideas, and updates on our latest projects. HAPPY NEW YEAR!

The Executive Director of AYGF, Dr Arome Salifu, led the Communications team on a courtesy visit to the Managing Editor of Leadership Newspaper Nigeria, Raliat Ahmed-Yusuf and her team. Media partnerships are paramount to organisations, especially NGOs like the Africa Youth Growth Foundation (AYGF). They play a role in disseminating information about key operations and projects, raising public awareness, enhancing partnerships, and encouraging more people to join our mission and cause. Leadership Newspaper Nigeria is a key strategic media house that asserts itself as an organisation that stands up for good governance and defends the interests of Nigerians at all times. Collaborating with them will enable us to effectively communicate our initiatives and successes to a broader audience, amplifying our impact and furthering our objectives.

AYGF Niger actively participated in the flag-off of this year’s first round of Optimized Maternal and Child Health Week (MNCHW) in Minna. AYGF, a proud sponsor of all MNCHW rounds in the state, reaffirms its support and collaboration with the Ministry of Primary Health Care and the state government. Stakeholders from ANRiN, AYGF, UNICEF, and WHO were also present, underscoring the broad support for this vital health initiative.

AYGF played a crucial role in the recent WASH in Emergencies (WiE) Technical Working Group (TWG) meeting organised by the Federal Ministry of Water Resources (FMWR). Represented by Programs Officer Imaga Oji, AYGF presented a significant report detailing the discovery of heavy metal poisoning in the Gaidau settlement of Sokoto State’s Illela LGA. This report sheds light on a severe public health crisis in the Gaidau settlement, where high levels of mercury, lead, cadmium, nickel, and zinc oxides have been detected in water, soil, and local produce. The contamination has impacted the community’s health, with 55% of water samples showing E. coli contamination. WASH is a cornerstone of public health, and its importance is magnified during emergencies when existing services are often overwhelmed. Without adequate WASH services, the spread of diarrhoea and infectious diseases can accelerate, posing a significant threat to affected populations. The TWG aims to enhance the capabilities of institutions and promote knowledge sharing and best practices in WASH management.

The AYGF team led by the Executive Director Dr. Arome Salifu paid a courtesy visit to Palladium. Received by the Country Director  Oiza Nicholson, and her team, the strategic meeting touched on the need to increase impact, and performance in the development space in Nigeria. Both organisations further discussed possible working partnerships, especially in the area of technical support and exploring new opportunities.

AYGF joined the rest of the world to commemorate Workers Day on the 1st of May with a short video to serve as a reminder that we value their dedication  To our dedicated and resilient workers in our various offices who work tirelessly to improve the lives and overall health of people in different communities, we say THANK YOU. Enjoy the video documented for the celebration of Worker’s Day at AYGF. Click Here